The castor bean is the seed of the castor oil plant. Castor oil, which is extracted from the beans, is used in food as an ingredient for flavorings and colors and is approved by the FDA as a laxative.Interesting Thing of the Day: Castor Oil — The All-Purpose Health Aid and Poison (April 15, 2005) It also is used as a mold inhibitor. The waste left over after the oil is extracted can be used to produce the toxin ricin.

Due to its high oil content and its high production rate, the castor bean is being considered as a biodiesel alternative.Southwest Farm Press: Could castor oil be what the doctor ordered for biodiesel? (June 30, 2006) The first location to attempt use of castor beans as an energy source is Ethiopia. Global Energy Ethiopia planted the crop, and expects to process over 25,000 tons of castor beans at their facility over the next 15 years.WaltaInfo.com: Castor Oil Energy Project successful in Ethiopia (August 1, 2008)