April 14, 2014 at 05:36PM Shea butter in Burkina Faso: better incomes thanks to alternative energy sources

In Burkina Faso, shea butter is produced by women using a traditional process that is both labour- and energy-intensive. Researchers from CIRAD recently showed that introducing new practices considerably improved the economic performance of the activity. Using shea nut shells, and churning sludge plus small quantities of butane as fuel rather than wood enables producers to boost their incomes considerably, while reducing the environmental impact of their activity. Using these alternative energy sources almost doubles the profit made per kilo of shea butter produced. On an environmental level, almost 900 hectares of forest could be spared in eastern Burkina Faso.

via CIRAD - Actualités / News http://ift.tt/1t3Uue8