Publications

This document summarises the systematisation of the project “Sustainable Biofuel Value Chain Development in an Existing African Oil Palm Plantation”, executed by SNV, WWF and HONDUPALMA, from October 2007 to March 2009, in El Negrito, Yoro, Honduras.

The purpose of the systemisation was to analyse the process followed in the design and implementation of the project and to identify the factors and key elements of: i) best agricultural practices (BAP) in production of African oil palm; ii) cleaner production (CP) in oil extraction and production plant; iii) bio-gas recovery project for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), in order to replicate and enlarge this experience at national and regional levels so as to share the lessons learnt throughout the process.

• The first section presents a summary of the methodological process followed to carry out the systematisation of the project;
• The second section makes reference to the context in which it was developed;
• The initial vision project (concepts, objectives, expected results, central themes, methodology and participants) is described in the third section;
• The fourth section deals with the formulation, formalisation and execution of the process, focusing on three main subjects: Cleaner Production (CP),
• Best Agricultural Practices (BAP), and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM); and one cross cutting subject: Business Model with a Value Chain Focus;
• Finally, the document includes the lessons learnt from the phases and the main subjects of the project, from which recommendations were derived to improve the implementation of the planned activities and achievements.

This story relates the challenges of deforestation and climate change in Southern Honduras and the impact that an innovate project led by SNV Honduras and financed by CORDAID and DANIDA has achieved in reforesting the area with Jatropha. The project has achieved results not only in improving previously degraded lands, but also through generating income for small holder farmers and contributing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions through producing biofuels. 

The politics of Cleaner Production (CP) is part of a response to commitments of Honduras on trade and environment. There’s a momentum of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (SERNA), the private sector's active participation and support of international cooperation. The overall objective of this policy is to promote, develop and consolidate the CP in the country, ensuring environmental protection, social welfare, economic growth and business competitiveness, as a sustainable long-term challenge.

In Hondupalma, the voluntary application of this policy meets the objective of promoting corporate environmental management to generate greater efficiency and profitability in the process, increase their competitiveness and reduce environmental impacts. SNV, as an ally of SERNA (public sector) and Hondupalma (private sector) became interested in linking the two actors and to promote and support the implementation of CP policy in the company.

En la zona del litoral Atlántico que colinda con el Arrecife crecen plantaciones de palma africana y operan plantas de procesamiento y extracción de aceite, cuyo funcionamiento representa una amenaza a la sostenibilidad del Arrecife. Así, constituye un reto disminuir los impactos ambientales negativos y, a la vez, aumentar la competitividad de las empresas que responden a los requerimientos del mercado World. Las acciones a emprender son diversas y entre ellas se encuentran la reducción del uso de agroquímicos y contaminantes y la reducción del consumo de aguas subterráneas.Para contribuir al desarrollo de tales acciones, durante el período 2007-2011, SNV apoyó a la empresa Palmas Aceiteras de Honduras (HONDUPALMA) en el diseño e implementación de una estrategia de producción más limpia (P+L) en la planta de procesamiento y extracción de aceite, y en la aplicación de mejores prácticas agrícolas (MPA) en las plantaciones de palma africana que se ubican en la zona de influencia del Arrecife Mesoamericano