Promotion of Small-scale biofuel production and use in Honduras Gota Verde Duration: 01/2007 – 12/2009 Contract number: EIE/06/277/S

Project Summary Honduras imports the 100% of the fossil fuels it consumes. 56% of Honduras´ export earnings are spent on fuel imports: an enormous drain of foreign exchange. A consortium of European institutions is developing Gota Verde, a project aimed at developing and testing an integrated regional economic development approach based on the promotion of small-scale production and local use of biofuels in Honduras Expected results: Development of the techniques for the optimization of the agricultural processes for oil yielding crops like Jatropha and Castor bean, that have not been grown commercially before. Development at the local level of the know-how for producing machinery for the processing of the plants for bio fuels and the adaptation of engines for use with PPO (Pure Plan Oil). Development of the local trade network with a local currency based on the production of bio fuels to enhance the local economy. Development of a entity with the local partners to make the project sustainable in the long run.

Images Trasplanting 8000 plants ready to be transplanted In Sulaco Unripe jatropha fruits 2nd Consultative Committee meeting In Yoro, October 2007 Engine test with biodiessel CEVER Main ofice Gota Verde project, Yoro Yoro.

Background Honduras is the second poorest country in America Latina, it depends 100% in oil imports, In 2006 it imported fossil fuels for more than US$1,085 millions, this is 46% of the country’s total imports and 56% of its export revenue. In rural areas there is very little agricultural expertise and traditionally the crops are mainly survival crops like corn or beans, offering very little inputs for the local economy. The production on oil yielding crops offers farmers with a new opportunity to diversify and increase their income sources. Lack of credit, little economic diversification, dependency of imported fuel based products and shortage of skill workers hinder the local economic development. The new fuel based local industry and local currency will help solve some of this problems and launch a healthier local economy.

Objectives and main steps I.Agricultural investigation and technical assistance Improve agricultural techniques (fertilization, nurseries, irrigation, etc.) Seed selection II. Demonstrate the technical and economical feasibility of small-scale bio-oil processing Logistical organisation (seed supply, press cake distribution, oil storage etc.) Installation of press and filter installation and biodiesel processor III. Demonstrate the technical feasibility of replacing diesel by PPO at the local level Training of local technicians Installation of a monitoring system IV.Create a local trade system that maximizes the impact van of the bio fuel introduction on the local economy. Producers: credit system (in kind and vouchers) Bio-oil users: financing system for engine adjustment Involve local institutions and enterprises : presentations, workshops, meetings VCreate a platform for the dissemination of the results of the project to other areas. Creation of open source documentation Creation of website Dissemination of results in Congress,…

Expected results Development of the techniques for the optimization of the agricultural processes for oil yielding crops like Jatropha and Castor bean. Development at the local level of the know how for manufacturing and servicing the machinery for the processing of the plants for bio fuels and the adaptation of engines to use with PPO (Pure Plan Oil). Development a local trade network with a local currency based on the production of bio fuels to enhance the local economy. Development a entity with the local partners with the goal of making this project sustainable in the long run.

Partners “Gota Verde” FACT Foundation PPO Groeneveld Fundación para el Desarrollo Empresarial Rural intelligent/index_en.html

Contact Peter Moers STRO Foundation, Nederland Tel (+31)