Applied Research
and Development for
Rural Productive Applications

Who We Are and What We Do: The Mesoamerican Development Institute is a nongovernmental organization with offices in UMASS Lowell, Costa Rica, and Honduras. We work on removing barriers to moving producer organizations up the value-added chain in agro-industrial processing, and in reducing production costs through the use of renewable energy sources in rural Mesoamerica. In practical terms, this entails creating the conditions in which new tools can be adopted by rural enterprises that allow them to participate in agro-industrial processing and the export of value-added products. Such examples include: The introduction of industrial hybrid solar/biomass coffee dryers that allow producers to reduce processing costs and improve quality while protecting forest habitat. The introduction of processing equipment for the extraction of essential oils of forest products that functions off grid using bio-fuels to power the industrial process. The introduction of hermetic storage systems that preserve coffee quality during storage and transport, allowing long-term storage even in tropical environments (country of origin). The introduction of Integrated Open Canopy (IOC) coffee production, which increases yields for small farmers while providing habitat for forest-dependent species.

What are Barriers to the Adoption of these Tools? The following barriers must be addressed for the successful introduction of new technologies and environmentally friendly processes: Institutional Barriers: In most of Central America, there are few examples for the transformation of the campesino, or small producer, to agro-industrialist. The ability to process either coffee or essential oils requires capital investment, technical and managerial capacity, and entrepreneurial spirit. Institutional barriers are not at all limited to emerging economieslack of multidisciplinary understanding often results in lack of cooperation and inaction in “advanced” institutions.   Technical Barriers: Lack of technical capacity to design, configure and install renewable energy technology and related equipment that match local conditions.   Informational Barriers: Lack of access to and experience with international markets and limited access to methodology and working models to promote the new concept of renewable energy for rural productive applications.   Financial Barriers: Lack of available credit for producer organizations to purchase equipment or finance the harvest is a long-standing barrier.

MDI's programs include the following: Training in coffee processing and quality control using industrial solar/biomass drying equipment at the MDI/Montes de Oro Training and Demonstration Center in Miramar, Costa Rica.   Development of new financing instruments to assist producers in transitioning to renewable energy technology---including the trading of emission reductions in the developing market for carbon trading created under the Kyoto Protocol and voluntary markets.   Marketing support for the promotion of Café Solar®, coffee dried using renewable energy technology.   Design and configuration of industrial solar coffee drying facilities.   Technical support for communities diversifying from coffee production to other high-value added agro-industrial activities, such as the extraction of essential oils in the buffer zone of the BOSAWAS Biosphere Reserve in Nicaragua.   Promotion of hermetic storage/treatment systems that promote quality preservation and long-term storage without the use of pesticides or fumigants for commodities and staple grains.   Development and implementation of experiential learning programs and multidisciplinary opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students at UMASS and other schools.

• The World Bank and Global Environment Facility
• The AVINA Foundation
• The Inter-American Foundation
• The International Foundation
• The US Fish & Wildlife Service
• SANDIA National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• The Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation (HIVOS)
• Coffee Kids
• Red Barn Coffee Roasters