From jatropha to biodiesel: innovation by young people
Jatropha seeds to biofuel collage by EXAF © 2026 EPFL
As part of Tanzania’s 2026 National Education, Skills and Innovation Week, a young participant in the EXAF-JFD project presented a project focused on producing biodiesel from jatropha seeds.
Held in Tanga, the National Education, Skills and Innovation Week showcases initiatives developed by talented young people in various fields. Among the projects presented this year was an initiative focused on using jatropha seeds to produce biodiesel.
This project was developed as part of the mentoring programme set up by the EXAF-JFD project, led by Thomas Kivevele, PhD, working with primary and secondary school pupils in the Arusha region. At the end of the programme, several student projects were selected to take part in a competition showcasing the most outstanding initiatives.
By exploring the potential of jatropha, a locally available plant resource, this young participant focused on producing an alternative to conventional fuels. His project thus illustrates how experimentation and the practical application of scientific knowledge can encourage young people to consider solutions tailored to today’s energy challenges.
Beyond the project itself, this initiative highlights the importance of mentoring and access to scientific experiences from a very young age. By giving pupils the opportunity to experiment, develop their ideas and present their projects, the EXAF-JFD programme helps to foster their scientific curiosity and their ability to devise innovative solutions.
Congratulations to this young participant on his work and commitment, and to Thomas Kivevele for this mentoring initiative which supports the next generation of young innovators in Tanzania.
Find out more about his project: Watch the video
The Junior Faculty Development programme is part of the initiative Excellence In Africa run jointly by Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique (UM6P) and EPFL.