Image courtesy of Justin Ruckman
Fun fact: Oil cake is a residue byproduct of biofuel processing that is rich in protein and minerals. There are many beneficial uses for oilcake, including: natural supplements for livestock, treatment for headaches[1], and fertilizers.
We can drive less by walking more, riding our bikes, carpooling, and taking public transportation. Every mile we don't drive reduces our contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, and using 100% biodiesel to fuel vehicles when we do have to drive eliminates the greenhouse gas emissions altogether.
We have chosen to use diesel vehicles at Wild Earth Stewardship Center because they are more fuel-efficient and can easily be converted to run off of biodiesel. Although there is much debate surrounding the use of biofuels, biodiesel and ethanol are environmentally benign alternative fuels if the feedstock comes from appropriate sources as all biofuels are not created equally.[2] For example, when waste vegetable oil (WVO) is used, waste is used for fuel rather than cutting down more rainforest or clear-cutting other natural areas to grow it. There is an estimated 1.5 million gallons of WVO for every one million people in US metropolitan areas. On average, 300 million gallons of WVO are thrown out every year in the US, which could be turned into fuel instead of going into a landfill.[3] Within the framework of sustainable development, small-scale biofuel production could provide livelihood opportunities in developing countries without compromising the environment.[4]
We are in the process of looking for someone to best advise us on the perfect small-scale biodiesel processing system for interested farmers. Small-scale farmers often experience fluctuating or limited financial resources due to the seasonal nature of their revenue stream and the high cost of fuel. Fossil fuels are very expensive in Belize. Farmers who produce their own biofuel, instead of purchasing diesel, save money, especially when a group of farmers invest together. The shared production of biofuel amongst several small farmers improves social networks and cooperation between farms. A small cooperative of farmers can easily be setup to share the financial burden of the processing equipment.
[1] Manandhar, Narayan P. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press. 2002.
[2] Royal Society, “Sustainable biofuels: prospects and challenges,” 14 Jan, 2008
[3] Journey to Forever. “Biofuels,” available at: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html
[4] Greenpeace, “World Agricultural Report 2008: Results and Recommendations”, May 2008
