The Philippines- a natural paradise for visitors. Looking through the airplane’s window, one sees endless green forests, crystal clear water and sandy white beaches. The view, however, is misleading. The paradise is endangered. Sixty percent of the Philippine’s land area was once covered by rain forest- today, it is less than six percent. One of the main causes of destruction, not only in the Philippines, but worldwide: the increasing demand for firewood.

Urgently needed: a new cooking technology for developing and emerging countries

Today, more than 2.5 billion people prepare their food on open fires using firewood or plant residues. Others cook with simple kerosene or gas stoves. The use of fossil fuels has increased globally to an alerting extent. This not only destroys the environment, emissions of the open firs are also hazardous to the health of the users. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that every year 1.6 million people die as a result of indoor air pollution caused by these fire places. In Indonesia, more than 30 percent of deaths in children aged one to four are caused by these emissions.

For more than a year, the stove has been field tested in more than 100 households on the Philippine island of Leyte. A team of German and Filipino scientists organized the field test, which was financed and conducted by BFSD member, BSH, co-financed by the German government’s Public Private Partnership program and supported by experts from development aid agencies. BSH Chairman and CEO, Dr. Kurt-Ludwig Gutberlet: “With Protos, BSH demonstrates its core competence in cooking, which has developed over decades, as well as its corporate social and environmental responsibility. Economy and ecology do not necessarily contradict each other, but can supplement each other constructively. This BSH initiative is proof of it.”

Success through teamwork

The already evident success of Protos can primarily be attributed to one factor: teamwork. Since 1997, the University of Hohenheim with Dr.-Ing. Elmar Stumpf, who today leads the Protos project at BSH, had developed initial prototypes with the financial support from member orgaizations of the Bellagio Forum for Sustainable Development. Under the direction of Gerd Strobel, Senior Vice President Product Area Cookers, and Dirk Hoffman, Vice President International Sals, BSH, as a member of the Forum, took over the management of the plant oil stove in 2003 and intensified the existing relationship with the Leyte State University. The university’s president, Prof. Dr. Roberto C. Guarte, are dedicated partners fully committed to the initiative. What seems to be a very logical and easy product, in fact needed years of intensive research. Development partners include the German universities of Hohenheim, Stuttgart and Karlsruhe, as well as the University of the Armed Forces in Munich and the Technical University of Munich. Within BSH, developers from Munich, Traunreut and Lipsheim, France, were involved, and also new business models were set up. Apprentices in Bretten and Traunreut produced the prototypes.

Dr.-Ing. Elmar Stumpf Project Leader at BSH: “Knowing about the concept of the plant oil stove for the first time, I was convinced: this technology could change life for many people in developing and emerging countries. However, it took years of intensive research for the stove’s development. I am responsible for the optimization of the technology. We know we still have improvements to make to the stove, and we are working on it diligently. Next to  the technical development we also set up a sustainable system including the cultivation of oil plants, the production of the plant oil, as well as the set up of the marketing system. This was indeed an exceptional challenge. Together with our partners we set up a successful economic model that creates job opportunities for the local population. Important for us: the users are really enthusiastic about the new technology. They realize that Protos eases the living conditions of their families. This is our impetus.”

A joint effort for global challenges Partnerships for Sustainable Development

Relying on established structures no organization alone would have been able to realize the plant oil stove project. The right partners, like the Rockefeller Foundation, the German Environmental Foundaiton, the Toyota Foundation as well as the European Nature Heritage Fund (Euronatur), who evaluates the ecological aspects of the project and for years has had a close relationship to the Universtiy of Hohenheim and Leyte State University. The project is currently supported by the Public Private Partnership Program of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the DEG – Deutsche Investition – und Entwicklungsgesellschaft GmbH (German association for investment and development), one of Europe’s largest development agencies. Through the PPP program, the German government fosters cooperation between private businesses and development aid, explicitly desiring long-term economic feasibility.

Long-term strategy and joint acton

However, it takes time before one can take action – patience is required. First of all, it is important to understand that country and its people. This is where another partner cam in to help, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH, the German agency for technical cooperation, which is supporting sustainable development worldwide. For many years, GTZ has been involved in several coastal and rain forest protection programs in the Philippines, as well as programs for the improvement of people’s livelihood; some of those in cooperation with the Leyte State University. All of the actors can rely on an established network that has been growing for years and that is key for the Protos Project.

Sales and marketing

The marketing of Protos began in spring 2006. A few small outlet stores were set up, dealers were trained and a Protos Road Show Truck was built. With the latter Protos can be demonstrated across the country. For the time being, a modest start. However, visiting 22-year old Ray Avellana at his small outlet store in the city of Baybay, the young entrepreneur proudly reports that he sold 29 stoves in just two weeks. For him, an unexpectedly great success. Dirk Hoffman, Vice President International Sales at BSH: “To achieve sustainability, in my opinion, users and local businesses need to have a significant economic benefit – either additional jobs or simply less costs. Only then people can be convined of ecological and health benefits.”

Plant oil, a farmers cooperative and new jobs Renewable Resources Protect the Environment

The old lady seemed very content. “You know,” she says in almost perfect English, “My sons finally found work that pays reasonably. And my grandsons are already looking forward to working in the cooperative when they grow up.” Does she mind being asked about her age? She doesn’t know her exact age, she says. But she did bring a pen to document the experience for her grandchildren. Like her, many people came as guests to Ciabu that day to see what kind of work the cooperative was doing.

The farmers and their oil

Ciabu is a small village, about a one-hour drive from the Leyte State University. Since early 2006, the Ciabu Primary Multipurpose Cooperative has run its own production centre for their 400 member families. Together they harvest coconuts and process the oil, while the remaining press cake is an excellent animal fodder. Initial financing for the building and the production line was provided by the Protos initiative from BSH and DEG.

From coconut to fuel

To process the oil from the nut, one first needs to remove the husk. Afterwards, farmers split the nut and dry the coconut meet in a special oven fuelled by the husk which was just removed. The resulting dried coconut meat, which is called copra, is then cut and pressed using simple tools. During and eight-hour shift, farmers process approximately 130 litres of oil per day. For one litre of fuel, the cooperative charges the equivalent of 42 euro cents. In comparison, one litre of kerosene costs 53 euro cents and is therefore much more expensive.

More money for the nut

For the old woman, who doesn’t know her exact age, but is good at doing the math, the result is clear: she spends less money for her nuts. After all, the price for crude coconut oil is no longer stable. However, Protos offers more sales potential. By selling the oil and the press cake as fodder, a 20 percent increase in revenue is achieved.

Not all oils are the same? In this case, they are.

One quarter of the Philippines’ farmland is used for growing coconut plants. The country is the largest producer of coconut oil worldwide. Approximately 120,000 farmers in Leyte live from coconut oil, which is seven percent of the island’s total population. In addition, there are farmers that grow other oil plants, such as the Jatropha Curcas (physic nut), a very common oil plant in the Philippines; however, it cannot be used for food. Protos can run on diverse plant oils, which gives farmers the opportunity to increase their income by growing a mix of coconut and Jatropha plants. Therefore, Protos also contributes to a mixed forest, which is always favourable, and is a perfect example of business and environmental protection working hand in hand.

Prof. Dr. Roberto C. Guarte Dean of the Leyte State University explains, “In my opinion, the Protos project is valuable because it is not just about marketing a new product. When I see the enthusiasm and energy our employees and our students bring tho the project, then I know that we are on the right track. Obviously, a lot of know-how comes to us from other countries, but we also contribute – our expertise in agriculture and our market knowledge that tells us what kind of products are marketable in this country. We know what works and what doesn’t. A project like this can only succeed when it is based on mutuality and understanding. Protos is proof of that. If is important to us that the users want to have our product Protos. We are happy to support BSH in introducing the stove and the plant oil production system in other countries as well.”

For additional information please visit www.plantoilcooker.com