General Motors has announced a five-year partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy to study using jatropha plants for biodiesel.

UPI reports that the test sites in India will look at whether jatropha can produce enough oil for the green fuel:

Farms with more than 200 acres of the drought-resistant, non-edible plant will host life-cycle studies near GM plants in India.

“In the long term, if jatropha is commercially viable, it will reduce dependence on petroleum as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote economic growth,” said Mike Robinson, GM vice president of environment, energy and safety policy.

GM officials say the non-edible plant will also help defuse the food-versus-fuel argument.