The Asiatic Center for Genome Technology Sdn Bhd (ACGT, Malaysia) and Synthetic Genomics, Inc (SGI, United States) have recently announced the “completion of a first draft assembly and annotation of the oil palm genome”, and “progress in the sequencing and analyzing of the jatropha genome”. Palm oil and jatropha are common feedstocks for the production of biodiesel in tropical countries. This initial step of the joint venture paves the way for the better understanding of genes encoding traits that are important for biodiesel production, and the development of improved varieties that can contribute to cost effective biodiesel production. The SGI website reports that a combination of two palm oil races (“tenera” and “dura”) were sequenced, “to produce seven-fold coverage of the plant’s genome”, representing the “most comprehensive sequence and analysis of this genome”. Under the joint venture, the sequencing and analysis of the jatropha genome will be continued to achieve ten-fold coverage..