(April 4, 2003 – Updated: September 4, 2006)

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The distinguishing feature of jojoba seed oil was discovered at the University of Arizona (United States) in the 1930s. However, it was not until early in the 1980s that the oil crisis brought attention to this species originating in the southern region of the state, and related it to its ability to grow with less water than required by traditional crops. These two characteristics seemed to offer a great promise for the continuity of agriculture in the region. For the purpose of aiding this undertaking, the U.S. government granted a tax exemption for anyone investing in crops such as jojoba. The net result of these events also caused early enthusiasm for these crops. Several plantations were established in Arizona ecosystems, different from the species’ original ecosystem, and the expectations remained high over the prospective abundance of seed and oil that would soon flood the market. Optimism was soon replaced by facts. The projected benefits were often based on the best plants found in research parcels, while commercial cultivation was done with plants with yields of lesser genetic potential. In many of the ecosystems into which jojoba was introduced, it was not even allowed to be established as a crop, dying as a result of the effects of frost, relative high humidity levels, heavy grounds, and other factors typical of these new sites. The investors and the government lost over USD 200 million as a result of these errors (National Academy of Science, 1989).

These failures were due to the lack of knowledge concerning the species and its requirements for commercial production. Growers should have accepted the fact that this was a new crop, along with its every implication, and started to work on domesticating the species, developing the clone varieties and agronomical practices that would allow jojoba to adapt to ecosystems different from its original one.

Reality led to a necessary waiting period as regards new plantations, until the varieties and agricultural practices that would allow jojoba to adequately progress were available. Today, almost 20 years later, jojoba is a commercial reality in the Valley of Hyder, Arizona.

There is a huge difference between most of these 1,900 has and the 20,000 planted at the onset of the jojoba fever. The difference lies in the fact that the current plantations were established with clone varieties selected over the years based on their ability to adapt to the requirements of a commercial project. Also, growers now have a reliable technological package, developed along with research centers such as the Universities of Arizona and California. The availability of genetic material and agronomical practices developed on site has allowed business risk to come down to acceptable levels from the growers’ standpoint (Palzkil, 2000; Coates, 2000).

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