The castor oil plant (Ricinus communis) is the one of energy crops. It has strong vitality and does not compete for land with food corps. Planting castor can absorb 7 to 10 metric tons of CO2 per hectare, and can significantly slow down the global warming. 

Castor seed is the source of castor oil, which has many uses in medicine and other applications. The seeds contain between 40% and 60% oil and can be harvested 2-3 times per year. There are more than 3000 kinds of chemical derivatives of castor oil. Castor oil is used as senior industrial lubricants, and the raw material of laxative, dyes, food additives, etc.
Besides, whole plant has economic values from the leaf, stem, to fruit.

Castor leaves: can be made into textile, a senior nylon material 
Castor leaves: breed oak silkworm
Castor meal: fodder for cows or organic fertilizers
Castor meal protein: the raw materials for the paint and white glue
Castor bark: the fine fibers for paper production
Castor rods: which has tough and fibrous and can be made ropes or sacks

Castor Seeds
(The smaller beans on the left side are the original breed of castor seeds and the large ones on the right side are the castor seeds that after the improvement by Linne Co. )