12:26 PM
Wednesday 01 February 2023
Cairo – ASA:
A report by the Information and Decision Support Center at the Council of Ministers highlighted an article published on the Trend Detail website, confirming that the implementation of the Egyptian plans for planting “Jojoba” and “Jatropha” trees would cause a major boom in the Egyptian economy, as a result of increasing economic returns. for the country.
The report issued by the Information Center under the title “Jojoba Trees..Green Gold in Egypt” dealt with the definition of jojoba trees, their characteristics, and the places where they are grown in Egypt, with reference to facts and figures closely related to their cultivation worldwide, their cultivation projects in Egypt, and the benefits achieved as a result of the expansion in cultivation, uses, and economic gains resulting from it.
He explained that the “jojoba” and “jatropha” trees are called “green gold” because of their multiple economic and environmental benefits because they are drought-resistant, in addition to being perennial trees with high salinity, noting that they are an important source of environmentally friendly biofuels. Heavy motor oils are extracted from these trees, and their oils are used in the manufacture of rubber tires.
In a related context, the article published on the Trend Detail website indicated that the world is currently moving towards using vegetable motor oils that decompose and do not harm the environment, instead of oils derived from fossil fuels, noting that jojoba oil is one of the most important alternatives to oils. Synthetic engines that are used in new car engines, especially since it is less expensive and more efficient than synthetic oils, noting that “jojoba” oil is currently used in most Western countries as engine oil for warplanes and supersonic aircraft, in addition to spaceships and missiles.
He explained that the jojoba tree has a number of advantages, most notably that it needs only 1000 m3 of water per year. It is also a plant that is resistant to pests and diseases, and is an ideal plant for cultivation in the desert. Jatropha”, especially since the derivatives of these trees may contribute directly to reducing carbon emissions, in addition to being part of many industries and products.
The report of the Information Center indicated that jojoba is a wild, evergreen plant, whose life cycle may reach about 100 years, and may exceed 200 years, and its dense leaves take an oval shape, and are very similar to olive leaves, except that they are leathery in texture, and covered with a thick layer of Wax, grown mainly in the desert regions of the world, so it is also known as “desert gold”, and in addition to its economic value, it is considered one of the plants most able to adapt to the desert environment, due to its low need for water, especially since its leaves have a waxy layer. Thick, standing leaves vertically, which reduces exposure to the scorching sun.
The Information Center stated that the jojoba plant is an oil crop, as its seeds contain a unique pure oil of more than 40% of the plant’s weight, which is chemically classified as “liquid wax.” The jojoba tree plays a vital role in combating the effects of desertification and improving soil quality. .
The center’s report indicated that the global jojoba oil industry began in 1971 in Mexico and the United States of America, and it also began to be used as a commercial commodity in 1982. In 2019, its value in the global market amounted to 133.2 million US dollars, while it reached 245.19 million dollars in 2021. The market value will reach US$ 351.75 million by 2027, with an annual growth rate of 6.2%.
He pointed out that the compound annual growth rate of the jojoba oil market worldwide is expected to reach 7%, as the actual production of the market during the year 2021 reached about 17020 tons, and it is expected during the year 2027 to reach 25493 tons, and cosmetics represent the largest sector / industry in the world. The global market for jojoba oil, accounting for about 70% of total revenue.
The report drew attention to the fact that the jojoba crop is one of the most prominent plants compatible with water and terrestrial resources and environmental conditions in Egypt, as it is an ideal strategic choice to receive the Egyptian desert, and about the most important jojoba cultivation projects in Egypt, the jojoba cultivation project in the New Valley, where the Paris Center succeeded in the New Valley. In January 2022, in the cultivation of 15 thousand acres (at a cost of 750 million pounds) to produce the most expensive oils in the world, “aircraft oils”, and it includes the largest “jojoba” nursery in the Middle East, in addition to the jojoba cultivation project in the Red Sea Governorate (targeted to cultivate 3000 acres), where the stage was opened The first of the project covers an area of 1,000 acres using triple-treated sewage water in the Red Sea Governorate, according to the cooperation protocol between the governorate and the Upper Egypt Development Authority, which was signed in October 2021, which aims to promote investment in the cultivation of oil plants, most notably jojoba, jatropha and others, at a cost of 138.5 million pounds. .
He indicated that work is underway to complete the work of the second phase of the project, which aims to cultivate an area of 2,000 acres, as 90% of the farm’s internal roads were completed in December 2022, and the jojoba cultivation project in Wadi al-Natrun, where its harvest season began on the lands belonging to the company. The Egyptian Gulf Company for the reclamation of desert lands in the Wadi al-Natrun region in August 2022, for the third year in a row, when the production of one acre exceeded 200 kg, exceeding the estimates previously set by the company’s advisory board team, and the Jojoba cultivation project in the “Sarabium” forest in Ismailia, where the Serapeum forest extends over an area 500 acres, and several types of trees are planted there, most notably: jojoba, cypress, conifers, kaya, casuarina, camphor, mulberry, cancares, sisal, and bamboo. Jojoba tree cultivation accounts for 6% of the total area of the forest.
The report highlighted the advantages of jojoba plant cultivation, the most prominent of which was the consumption of small amounts of water, as the jojoba plant is irrigated by distillation and needs irrigation only about (12-15) times a year, and it bears high levels of salinity, reaching 3000 parts per million and can reach 10 thousand Maximum part per million without negatively affecting its productivity, its low need for organic fertilizers, as it needs little organic fertilizers in the first four years of its cultivation, and after that very small quantities of chemical fertilizers can be added to the irrigation water, and it does not need preventive spraying or curative, given its limited exposure to insects and plant diseases.
The seeds of jojoba trees can be collected as soon as they mature, and they can be left uncollected for several months until the labor force is available without affecting the crop. The crop can also be stored for long periods of time without affecting its properties, as the oil contained in the seeds resists oxidation even under harsh climatic conditions. And its high economic return, as the average revenue of an acre (7 years old) is about 6 thousand pounds at least, and this revenue increases annually. The jojoba plant can be irrigated with treated wastewater in order to achieve the desired benefit from water recycling.
The jojoba residue constitutes a rich fodder, as it contains 30% of the protein, after removing it from the substance “simmondsin”, which works to reduce appetite. The cultivation of jojoba trees is also compatible with the desert climate, especially the Egyptian desert, as it tolerates high temperatures in summer and cold, which are not less than 4 degrees Celsius. degrees Celsius in winter.
It is noteworthy that Egypt is one of the most suitable countries for planting jojoba trees in terms of the availability of climatic conditions and lands suitable for cultivation, in addition to the low cost of producing jojoba oil by about 50% compared to the rest of the world.
The report touched on the multiplicity of uses of jojoba trees, in addition to its high economic value in view of its distinctive characteristics, especially in light of its high economic returns, as jojoba oil is used in many industries and medical preparations, including it is used in the manufacture of fodder, organic fertilizer, and varnish. , soap, waxes, inks, plastics, lubricants, and biocides. It is also a clean and effective alternative to diesel fuel, as it is used to run vehicle and aircraft engines because it is an environmentally friendly alternative due to the low emissions generated from it.
Jojoba oil is also used in the manufacture of medicines, antipyretic drugs, analgesics, treatment of infections and wounds, and the cosmetics industry. Types of bacterial diseases on grape plants and some ornamental plants, which would reduce dependence on chemical pesticides that are harmful to humans and the environment in general. Jojoba cultivation in desert areas also provides new job opportunities for young people, with relatively limited burdens of water and financial resources.
