A top biotechnologist in the country said the government should not encourage marginalized farmers to plant jatropha on a massive scale because that would put them at a disadvantage.

Dr. Saturnina Halos, chairman of the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Advisory Team, told The Manila Times that farmers would be at the receiving end if they plant jatropha because the only big market for that crop is biodiesel.

Halos said jatropha is "toxic" to the soil, and may contain a neurotoxin that can harm or kill humans.

"The farmers will be placed at a disadvantage, because the only big market for jatropha is biodiesel. What if that market suddenly disappears … the farmer would be left in a pitiful state," she added.

While jatropha planting is encouraged along lands where rice cannot be planted, Halos said the biofuel crops that the government should propagate should also have a market for food. Among these are coconut, malunggay, cassava, sweet sorghum, and sugarcane.

She added that there is no need to devote so much land for biofuel crops, as far as complying with the Biofuels Law is concerned.

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