Pinhão-Manso: Uma Alternativa para Produção de Biodiesel na Agricultura Familiar da Amazônia Brasileira Jatropha curcas: An alternative for biodiesel production in the Brazilian Amazonian family agriculture

The pinhao-manso (Jatropha curcas L.), from the Euforbiaceae family, is a species that can be raised in different edafoclimatic conditions. It presents a regular medicinal and ornamental value, and it is also useful for oil production, Nowadays it is increasing the interest in the agronomic knowledge of this culture, mostly related to the selection and improving of more productive and economically feasible varieties, mainly due to its high potencial for biodiesel production. Although this species is not yet cultivated for market use in Brasil, it has shown feasibility for family agriculture in North and Northeast regions, because of its great resistance to draught as well as its good adaptation to high temperatures and insolation. This species can also produce in highly acid and scarcely fertile soils, such as those in the Amazonian savannah. There are various studies in progress dedicated to this culture in Roraima state, and through these studies, it may be achieved a possibility to develop feasible production technologies that could be adopted by family agriculture. That would show a promising alternative for job creation and better income, fostering the recovering and protection of modified areas, and promoting the organization of native fruit and annual cultures consortiums.