Questionnaire 

Interview information (for interviewer only)

Interviewer: 

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Date: ........................................

Type of interview conducting: 

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Contact person: 

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SECTION A

For the following questions, p

1. General company background

1.1 What is the name of your company/

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1.2 In which countries is your 

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1.3 How many different sites does your company

..............................................

1.4 What is your main project, to which 

.............................................................................................................

1.5 Which species are you cultivating 

o Jatropha 

o Croton 

o Moringa 

o Neem 

1.6 How much land do you have 

categories (not necessarily

o Own land: 

o Leased land: 

1 

Questionnaire for the “Growing Oil on Trees”

(for interviewer only): 

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conducting: 

Function of interview partner

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Phone: ..............................................

Email: ..............................................

Address from project list: 

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SECTION A - COMPANY AND PROJECT BACKGROUND

please refer to your company and/or the project you are involved in

background

t is the name of your company/project? 

.............................................................................................................

your company/project engaged? 

.............................................................................................................

How many different sites does your company use for feedstock production per country

..............................................

What is your main project, to which you will refer to in the following?

.............................................................................................................

cultivating in your project? Multiple answers possibl

o Pongamia 

o Castor (Ricinus) 

o Other, please specify: 

..............................................

have generally available for your project in the following 

necessarily planted yet)?

..........ha 

..........ha 

o Outgrowers’ land:

o No information available

rees” Study

Function of interview partner: 

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..............................................

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you are involved in. 

use for feedstock production per country? 

Multiple answers possible. 

Other, please specify: 

..............................................

in the following 

..........ha 

No information available 
2 

1.7 How much land has been and will be planted with oil bearing trees? [ha] 

Mid-2008 Mid-2011 Mid-2012 Mid-2013 Mid-2014 Mid-2015 

Own plantation 

Outgrowing scheme 

Other, please specify: 

................................ 

 

SECTION B – PROJECT SPECIFICS

In the following, please refer to the largest plantation site or a representative outgrower project. 

2. Plantation site specific information 

2.1 In case you work on several sites, which plantation site are you referring to? 

............................................................................................................. 

2.2 Which species do you cultivate at the plantation? 

............................................................................................................. 

2.3 In which year did you start sowing/planting? 

o Sowing: ........................................... 

o Planting: .......................................... 

o No information available 

2.4 Geography and climate of the plantation site 

2.4.1 Which is the closest town, postal code or geographic location? 

............................................................................................. 

2.4.2 What is the average annual rainfall at the plantation site? 

..................mm

o No information available 

2.4.3 What is the soil type at the plantation site (relative percentage of sand, silt and clay)? 

o Dominantly Sand 

o Dominantly Silt 

o Dominantly Clay 

o Loam (roughly equal distribution of sand, silt, clay) 

o Other, please specify: ........................................... 

3. Agronomic aspects 

3.1 What steps were necessary to establish the plantation? Multiple answers possible.

o Manual clearing 

o Clearing with machines 

o Removal of trees 

o Removal of shrubs/bushes 

o Cutting of grass 

o Burning of removed biomass 

o Other use of removed biomass, please 

specify: ..................................... 

o Discing or ploughing of field 

o No information available 
3 

o No information available 

3.2 What type of genetic material do you use? Multiple answers possible.

o Wild material 

o Locally selected material 

o Improved material from own breeding 

o Purchased improved material, please 

indicate cultivar: ........................ 

o Seeds 

o Cuttings 

o Seedlings 

o Other, please specify: ...................... 

o No information available 

3.3 Which cultivation systems do you mainly practice? Multiple answers possible.

o Planted as hedges/living fences 

o Planted in rows 

o One species only 

o Several species in combination 

o Oil bearing trees and annual crops 

(indicate type of crops: ........................) 

o Combination with animal husbandry 

(cattle, sheep, etc.) 

o Collection of wildlings/wild seeds 

o Other, please specify: 

.......................................................... 

o No information available 

3.4 How are your oil bearing trees pollinated? 

o Self pollination 

o Wind pollination 

o Insect pollination 

o Hand pollination 

o No pollination required 

o No information available 

3.5 Have you introduced measures to improve pollination? 

o Yes, please specify: .................................................................. 

o No 

o No information available 

3.6 How is your plantation set up? 

o One large plot (no other fields or types of vegetation in between plots) 

o Separated smaller plots (separated by other fields or types of vegetation) 

o No information available 

3.7 What is the spacing of the plants? 

Distance between rows: .............m Distance between trees in rows: .............m 

o No information available 

3.8 What is the average height of the trees in your plantation today? 

For other trees than Jatropha, indicate average diameter at breast height

o Average height: ...............m 

o Diameter at breast height: ...............m 

o No information available 

3.9 What is the measured OR expected average dry seed yield of your plantation? 

Year Yield measured [t/ha*year] Yield expected [t/ha*year] 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Current n/a 

At maturity 
4 

3.10 If you are already producing oil, how much have you produced in the last harvesting 

season: 

..............................t 

3.11 What is your average extracted oil yield? 

................................% 

3.12 If you operate your own plantation site, how do you control pests and diseases? Multiple 

answers possible.

o Not at all 

o Chemical pesticides, please specify 

times/year: ....................................... 

o Biological pesticides, please specify 

times/year: ....................................... 

o Other, please specify: 

.................................................. 

o No information available 

3.13 If you operate your own plantation site, how do you control weeds? Multiple answers 

possible.

o Not at all 

o Hand weeding, please specify 

times/year: ................... 

o Mechanical cutting, please specify 

times/year: ................... 

o Grazing animals, please specify 

times/year: ................... 

o Burning, please specify times/year: 

................... 

o Herbicide use, please specify type and 

times/year: ........................................ 

o Other, please specify: 

.............................................. 

o No information available 

3.14 If you operate your own plantation site, how do you fertilize your plantation? Multiple 

answers possible.

o Not at all 

o Chemical fertilizer, please specify types 

and amount : 

............................................kg/ha*year 

o Organic fertilizer, please specify types 

and amount: 

............................................kg/ha*year 

o Press cake 

o Other, please specify: 

.................................................. 

o No information available

3.15 If you operate with an outgrower model, please describe the plantation and maintenance 

model: 

o Average size of outgrower plot [ha]: .................................................. 

o Provision of seedlings: .................................................. 

o Fertilization: .................................................. 

o Weeding: .................................................. 

o Pest control: .................................................. 

4. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services 

4.1 If you operate your own plantation site, how far away is the nearest forest from your 

plantation? (Forest Definition FAO: Forests are lands of more than 0.5 hectares, with a tree canopy 

cover of more than 10 %, which are not primarily under agricultural or urban land use. Plantations and 

agroforests are excluded.)

o Up to 100m 

o 101 - 500m 

o 501 - 1,000m 

o 1,001 – 5,000m 

o More than 5,000m 

o No information available 
5 

4.2 What habitat type is mainly surrounding your site? Multiple answers possible.

o Natural habitat (natural forest, 

savannah, etc.) 

o Agricultural land (incl. pasture land) 

o Wet land 

o Urban areas 

o Protected areas (wildlife sanctuary, 

national park, biosphere reserve) 

o Other, please specify: 

.................................................... 

o No information available 

4.3 If you operate your own plantation site, are beneficial insects present in your plantation? 

o Yes, please specify benefit: ........................................................... 

o No 

o No information available

4.4 What was the vegetation type prior to the establishment of your plantation? Multiple 

answers possible.

o Primary forest (forest of native species 

with no clearly visible indications of 

human activity) 

o Secondary forest, canopy cover >30% 

o Secondary forest, canopy cover <30% 

o Shrubland (shrubs without a definite 

crown are the dominant vegetation) 

o Savannah/grassland 

o Farmland 

o Degraded land or wasteland 

o Other, please specify: 

........................................ 

o No information available 

4.5 How was the land in your project used before? Multiple answers possible.

o Farming food crops 

o Farming non-food crops 

o Animal husbandry/pasture (cattle, 

sheep, etc.) 

o Wood production 

o Not used at all 

o No information available 

4.6 What kinds of wild animals are living in and/or around your plantation? 

........................................................................................................................ 

o No information available 

4.7 Do you observe nesting of birds in your plantation site? 

o Yes 

o No 

o No information available 

4.8 Are there any rare or protected species (i.e. animals, birds or plants) that are seen in and 

around the plantation? 

o Yes, please specify if possible: ............................................................................ 

o No 

o No information available 

4.9 Are there any wildlife conservation programs or activities in the plantation area? 

o Yes, please specify what type of conservation activity: .......................................................... 

o No 

o No information available 

4.10 Is the plantation site or any of the outgrower farms located close to a cultural site, e.g. a 

sacred forest or community forest? 

o Yes, please specify: ....................................................................................... 

o No 

O No information available
6 

SECTION C - BUSINESS MODEL, FINANCING, SUSTAINABILITY

For the following questions, please refer to the project level. 

5. Financing and business model 

5.1 Investments and costs 

5.1.1 How much money was invested in your project until today? 

o ≤100,000 US$ 

o >100,000 - 500,000 US$ 

o >500,000 - 1 m US$ 

o >1 m - 3 m US$ 

o >3 m - 10 m US$ 

o >10 m - 20 m US$ 

o > 20 m US$ 

o No information available 

5.1.2 How much additional money do you plan to invest in your project until 2015? 

o ≤500,000 US$ 

o > 500,000 - 1 m US$ 

o > 1m - 5 m US$ 

o > 5 m - 10 m US$ 

o >10 m - 20 m US$ 

o > 20 m - 50 m US$ 

o > 50 m US$ 

o No information available 

5.1.3 What is your average investment to establish one hectare? (Including labor costs, 

clearing, seedlings, inputs, planting) 

o ≤100 US$ 

o 101 - 200 US$ 

o 201 - 300 US$ 

o 301 - 500 US$ 

o 501 -700 US$ 

o 701 - 1,000 US$ 

o > 1,000 US$ 

o No information available

5.1.4 What are your average expenses for the maintenance of one hectare? (Including labor 

costs and inputs) 

o ≤ 50 US$ 

o 51 - 100 US$ 

o 101 - 200 US$ 

o 201 - 400 US$ 

o 401 - 600 US$ 

o >600 US$ 

o No information available 

5.1.5 What are the average daily labor costs in your region? 

.................................... Currency: ........................ 

5.1.6 Which farm gate prices are currently achieved for oil and press cake in your region?

o Jatropha oil: ................... 

o Jatropha press cake: ................... 

o Other oil: ................... 

o Other press cake: ................... 

o No information available 

Currency: ...................... 
7 

5.1.7 What do you think were the main reasons for failure of projects in your country? Multiple 

answers possible.

o Lack of funding because of financial 

crisis 

o Lack of funding because of project risks 

o Lack of agronomic knowledge 

o Bad choice of project location 

o Bad quality of genetic material (seeds) 

o Problems with outgrowers 

o Other, please specify: 

......................................................... 

o No information available 

For the following questions, please refer to the company level. 

5.2 Sources of corporate financing 

5.2.1 Do you have a parent company which is active in multiple industries? 

o Yes 

o No 

5.2.2 What are your major equity shareholders? Multiple answers possible.

o Owner-investors 

o Institutional investors 

o Government 

o Other, please specify: 

................................................... 

o No information available

5.2.3 Is a well known shareholder investing in your company? 

o Yes, please specify the name: ................................................... 

o No 

o No information available 

5.2.4 Who is providing debt to the company? Multiple answers possible.

o Commercial banks, currency: ............ 

o Development banks, currency: ............ 

o Shareholder loan, currency: ............ 

o Other, please specify: 

................................................... 

o None 

o No information available 

5.2.5 From which of the following did you receive donations or non-refundable financing?

Multiple answers possible. 

o NGOs 

o Governmental agencies 

o Private persons/foundations 

o Companies 

o Other, please specify: 

................................................... 

o None

5.2.6 Which stakeholders significantly contribute to your company in non-financial terms? 

Multiple answers possible.

o Governmental institution 

o NGO 

o Research institution 

o International company 

o External advisor, please specify: 

........................................... 

o Other, please specify: 

........................................... 

o None 

o No information available 

5.2.7 If you have stakeholder contributions, how do these stakeholders contribute? Multiple 

answers possible. 

o Know-how 

o Reputation (e.g. in terms of 

environmental or social sustainability) 

o Network 

o Policy support 

o Other, please specify: 

........................................... 

o No information available 
8 

5.3 Which of the following value-creating steps does your company perform? Multiple 

answers possible.

o Plant breeding/research&development 

o Seed production/nursery 

o Feedstock production 

o Oil extraction 

o Refining or other processing, please 

specify: 

................................................... 

o Other, please specify: 

................................................... 

o No information available 

5.4 What are your final products used for? Multiple answers possible.

o Biodiesel (domestic) 

o Biodiesel (international) 

o Pure plant oil (light, cooking) 

o Other biofuel, please specify: 

................................................... 

o Cosmetics/other industry 

o Food 

o Press cake as fertilizer 

o Press cake as animal feed 

o Press cake as feedstock for energy 

production 

o Other, please specify: 

................................................... 

o No information available 

5.5 Do you receive or aim to receive carbon credits?

o Yes 

o No →please continue with 6.1

o No information available 

5.5.1 If yes, how do you generate carbon credits? Multiple answers possible.

o Fuel switch 

o Reforestation 

o By-products 

o No information available 

5.5.2 What is the status of the application process for carbon credits? 

o Application planned but not started 

o Applied but acceptance pending 

o Accepted 

o No information available

5.5.3 Which standard do you (plan to) work with? 

o Don’t know yet 

o Voluntary standard, please specify: ................................................... 

o tCER under CDM 

o Other, please specify: ................................................... 

o No information available 

5.5.4 At which market price do you sell or intend to sell your carbon credits? 

Please estimate [US$/credit]: ................................................... 

o No information available

6. Sustainability Certification 

6.1 In your opinion, what are important sustainability issues to be considered in your field of 

business? 

............................................................................................................................................. 
9 

6.1.1 Should sustainability regulation be introduced in your sector? 

o Yes 

o No 

o No information available 

Follow-up question: If yes, how should they be regulated? Multiple answers possible.

o Voluntary for social aspects 

o Voluntary for environmental 

aspects 

o Mandatory for social aspects 

o Mandatory for environmental 

aspects 

6.2 How do you promote sustainability within your project/company? Please refer to main 

activities you pursue for environmental, social and economic sustainability. 

............................................................................................................................................. 

............................................................................................................................................. 

Follow-up question: Do you engage in reporting on your sustainability activities? 

6.3 In your opinion, how important are the following sustainability measures for decision 

making in your own business? Please specify level of importance of each option on a 

scale from 1 to 5: 

1

not 

important 

2 

somewhat 

important 

3 

neutral 

4 

quite 

important 

5 

very important 

Complying with relevant laws 

and regulations o o o o o

Assessing environmental 

impacts o o o o o

Assessing social impacts o o o o o

Consulting stakeholders o o o o o

Assessing long-term 

economic viability o o o o o

Reducing greenhouse gas 

emissions o o o o o

Safeguarding human and 

labor rights o o o o o

Contributing to social and 

economic development o o o o o

Ensuring local food security o o o o o

Avoiding negative impacts 

on biodiversity, ecosystems, 

and conservation values 

o o o o o

Mitigate soil degradation/ 

maintaining soil health o o o o o

Safeguarding quality and 

quantity of surface and 

ground water resources 

o o o o o

Respecting water rights o o o o o

Minimising air pollution along 

the supply chain o o o o o

Minimising risks of damage 

through technology use o o o o o

Respecting land rights and 

land-use rights o o o o o
10 

6.4 What is the status of sustainability certification of your plantation(s)? 

o No certification in place and none planned → please continue with 6.4.3 

o Certification planned but not yet achieved 

o Certification achieved 

o No information available → please continue with 6.4.3

o Other, please specify: ................................................... 

6.4.1 According to which standard(s) do you (plan to) certify your projects? Multiple answers 

possible.

o ISCC (International Sustainability and 

Carbon Certification) 

o FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) 

o NTA 8080 (Netherlands Technical 

Agreement 8080) 

o REDcert (REDcert certification system) 

o RSB (Roundtable on Sustainable 

Biofuels) 

o Other, please specify: 

................................................... 

o No standard chosen yet 

o No information available 

6.4.2 If you are certified or aim for certification, what is your main motivation for doing so? 

............................................................................................................................................. 

............................................................................................................................................. 

Follow-up questions: 

- What is your motivation to choose this particular certification program? 

- Under which conditions, if any, would you consider switching to another 

certification program? 

- Under which conditions, if any, would you consider quitting certification? 

6.4.3 If you do not plan any certification, what are your motives? 

............................................................................................................................................. 

............................................................................................................................................. 

Follow-up question: 

- Have you ever worked with a certification scheme? If yes, what were your motives 

for quitting? 

- Under which conditions, if any, would you consider certification? 

Further comments? 

............................................................................................................................................. 

............................................................................................................................................. 

END OF INTERVIEW –THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION 

Administration

Do you agree that we indicate your project and location in the report? 

o Yes 

o No 

Do you want to receive a note when we finalised the report? 

o Yes 

o No 

Would you be available for further questions? 

o Yes 

o No