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Jatropha curcas is a hardy plant which can withstand arid environments and grow on poor wastelands typical of developing countries. Oil can be extracted from the fruit of Jatropha crops which is non-edible but can be put to use for a variety of purposes, from sustainable chemistry to energy generation and biofuel. A series of evaluations of the feasibility of promoting Jatropha energy crops, especially on marginal farm lands in the Mediterranean region, was carried out by the JatroMed Project with the participation of Italy through CREA-ING. Five years of experiments have led to the identification of the most suitable mechanization system for the harvest of these crops, optimizing yields and safeguarding the work performed by farmers