Network for the Valorization of Plant Materials (VPMA)

Principal investigators: 
Dr. Rigobert Yaméogo: Institut de recherches en sciences appliquées et technologiques, Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)
E-mail: [email protected]
Dr. Suzanne Coulombe: Centre de recherches industrielles du Québec, Québec (Canada) 

In Burkina Faso, the Huiles végétales non alimentaires (Non edible vegetable oils) Project has developed a set of technologies that constitute an extraction unit of fat oils, made of dehuller, nuts crusher, roaster and an improved manual press that enable to relieve work hardship and to increase income of the women groups involved in the production of these vegetal oils, in the arid regions in the North of Burkina Faso, where the production of these oils offers the only source of income during nine month of the dry season. The project has also adapted a soap mixer and has studied the oils of several plants including: Balanites, Shea, Neem, Sclerocarya, Ziziphus and Lannea. The fatty acids composition of extracted oils has been determined as well as some secondary products with specific activity. Formulations of antidermatosis soaps from neem oil and new formulations of peanuts flours have been done. The results of the project have been extensively disseminated through workshops and documentary movies on the national television and on TV5 (International Television Francophone Network). A collaboration with the Canadian International Development Agency has been developed thank to the project, and has involved many local and regional partners. The project is now considering the best conditions for the transfer of this technology package to local small enterprises interested. Another funding has been granted by IDRC to enable the project to solve the problems relating to the quality and the conservation of shea butter in view of its commercialization to international market.