SG Biofuels expands into India

In the US SG Biofuels, a bioenergy crop company, located in San Diego, California, is expanding its operations into India and has named Subhas Pattnaik as director of operations for the market.

'India represents a significant yet untapped market for jatropha and we are privileged to have Subhas, with his extensive experience managing jatropha plantations throughout the country, leading our operations,' comments Kirk Haney, president and CEO of SG Biofuels. 'We are excited about the opportunity to bring our hybrid jatropha varieties to India to help fulfil the vast potential of the crop and meet the country's significant demand for sustainable plant oil.'

In India Pattnaik's new role will see him manage the development of multiple JMax jatropha optimisation centres to test and adapt jatropha varieties from its genetic library to a range of growing conditions in the country.

Pattnaik has also led operations for renewable energy provider Mission New Energy in India where he managed the rollout and operations of the largest jatropha plantation acreage in the world, spanning more than 200,000 acres, 124,000 farmers and five provinces.

The new director of operations has more than 14 years of experience in agribusiness, including leadership positions at Aditva Birla Retail and DuPont India.

'While jatropha holds tremendous promise as the primary feedstock for biofuels in India, its success is dependent upon the development of improved planting material with higher, more consistent yields than what is being realised today,' Pattnaik says. 'With its extensive and diverse library of genetic material, applied plant genetics and crop improvement platform, SG Biofuels has the right approach to realise the crop's potential in India.'