D1 Oils Plc is a biofuels technology company. Our strategy is to develop new energy crops into sustainable commercial fuels. We provide technology and services for the breeding, development, planting and harvesting of new varieties of commercial biofuel crops, focusing on alternative, sustainable feedstocks that are not subject to the same price pressures as food-grade crops. We have an established plant science and planting programme for Jatropha curcas, a robust, tropical oilseed bearing tree. Jatropha produces inedible oil feedstock for biodiesel and is able to make use of land not suitable for arable agriculture.

Speaker Profile
Erik Wiersma obtained a BSc in Tropical and Sub-Tropical Agriculture from the International Agricultural College Larenstein in Deventer, Netherlands.

He joined D1 Oils Plant Sciences in Belgium last year as the Global Sustainable Oil Supply Program Manager. Prior to that, he was the Farm manager with Vitacress Portugal which is involved in the production of baby leaf.

He had a short stint with the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, working on farm registration and European subsidy applications. He also has the experience of managing a 5000 ha oil palm plantation in Nigeria which belongs to the Belgium company SIAT.

Jatropha Practitioner Workshop Speaker
Day 3 – Tuesday, October 22
09:00 Session I: PLANTATION SET-UP

JATROPHAWORLD 2008 is a showcase of all the latest trends and shifts occurring in the Jatropha value chain, bringing together on a single platform, the best expertise to discuss and analyze the present and future dynamics of Jatropha from a technological and socio-economic angle. To find more about JatrophaWorld in Hamburg from October 20 to 21, 2008, please visit http://www.futureenergyevents.com/jatropha/.