Water Guardians

An Education and Recycling Project for the Conservation of Water Resources and the Production of Biofuels

Coopevictoria has a recycling project for the generation of biofuels, in which oil is collected as a result of the preparation of meals through the schools of the community, which function as collection centers, this oil is taken to CoopeVictoria RL to be converted into a fuel friendly to the environment (Biodiesel) which in turn is a source of clean energy.

This project is based on 4 fundamental pillars: The recycling of a highly polluting product (each liter of oil contaminates up to 10,000 liters of water), education on recycling in the new generations (through a program of talks at schools) , economic aid to the schools for the material collected, and the production of a fuel 80% less polluting than the conventional

The production of this Biofuels is an important source of alternative energy for the cooperative since it is used in all the Agricultural Machinery, reducing emissions by 80% and decreasing the dependence on traditional fuels. In addition, Biodiesel is offered to our associates through the Service Station.

Production of victoria organic fertilizer and use of agroindustrial residues

CoopeVictoria mill, receives and processes more than 50,000 bushels of coffee that generate between 38% and 40% of solid waste (Broza) of the processed coffee.

Years ago, industrial waste from the manufacture of sugar, which is mainly cachaça and ash, ended up in the water currents of rivers and streams, contaminating them chemically, physically and biologically.

However, from 1986, CoopeVictoria began the first experiences in composting, anticipating what would come in the future, in terms of the use of organic waste and a rigorous conservationist legislation. All this forced to look for these by-products a reasonable use, that would justify the investment in the systems of collection, transport and handling of these and this is how from that year the filter cake, the ash and the coffee brush, went into process of composting to give origin to the VICTORIA ORGANIC FERTILIZE

With the use of organic fertilizers farmers can reduce the use of external inputs and increase the efficiency of community resources, while protecting human health and the environment.

FOREST PROTECTION AND REFORESTATION

CoopeVictoria currently has a farm called Finca La Inés, which is mainly dedicated to forest protection and reforestation initiatives.

Finca Inés is located in the foothills of the Poás Volcano, a part of it within the zone of the Grecia Forest Reserve, Reserve that is part of the Conservation Area of ​​the Central Volcanic Mountain Range of Costa Rica. This area has a great diversity of ecosystems due to the climatic and topographic variations present in the area. Due to its location it is a very important place regarding the production of water for human and industrial consumption.

The farm has an area of ​​agricultural use and pasture lands, here at present coffee crops are maintained that are marketed under the modality of microlotes, to show a differentiated quality.