Small-scale vegetable oil production in Leo, Burkina Faso Applicant Mali Biocarburant SA, local partner Sahel Agribusiness & Invest will set up a joint venture company, Faso Biocarburant Leo SA (FBL), for the production of vegetable oil on the basis of mainly Jatropha curcas besides Ximenia and Balanites. The crops will be produced by over 2,000 small farmers in Leo, Burkina Faso. The atropha will be integrated in the existing parkland agro forestry farming system. Farmers will plant Jatropha trees on their own land next to their annual food crops and trees thus ensuring food security. The Jatropha nuts will be brought to rural collection points and pressed, where Faso Biocarburant Leo SA collects the oil. Faso Biocarburant Leo SA will install an oilprocessing unit for the local production of non-edible oils for local businesses such as soap factories. In total 25 people will be directly employed by the company, and over 2,000 outgrowers will gain an additional income as well as other benefits. Farmers and extension workers will be trained in all aspects of Jatropha cultivation, processing staff will be trained in production and local management will be trained in business management. The project will reduce expensive imports of palm oil, transported from the coast over a distance of 1,500 km, and will thus have a positive effect on the national trade balance and the global environment.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The partners are committed to implement a good CSR policy as they believe that this will lead to committed employees and to good business results. Free lunches and drinks will be provided to the employees and a canteen will be built with a separate part for women to take care of their children. HIV/AIDS training will be provided to all employees and free preservatives will be made available. A sound CSR policy will give FBL a good name and that will be important to assure that farmers continue to deliver nuts to FBL. The joint venture will therefore not only respect the official labour regulations of the country, but will also work according to the same standards that are used in the Netherlands. Employees will have a voice in the organisation and participation in the social dialog because proactive employees with commitment to the business are highly appreciated.The farmers will become shareholder of the factory and the president of the farmer union will have a seat in the board of the company.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsTwo years after the project, a total of 50 people will be employed by the joint venture. The staff will work under the international ILO conditions, including proper insurances and medical benefits, safe and clean working conditions, and education allowance for the children. Working conditions will be in compliance with the national labour laws, under long term contracts and with salaries that are 25% above the average market wages.•	Innovation/Transfer of knowledgeA training programme is part of this project. Subjects of the training are: use of good seeds, innovative nursery practices, new ways of planting, tree management, pest and disease control and so on.•	Chain effectsOver 2,000 outgrowers will be delivering Jatropha nuts to the joint venture. Results by MBSA in Mali showed a good revenue for farmers: an average income of FCFA 1,250 per day, which is nearly double the average income.A large group of SMEs which will benefit from the new activities are the rural private nursery owners. About 50 nursery managers are foreseen to be steady suppliers of Jatropha seedlings to the farmers of FBL. This will be in addition to the central FBL managed nursery. About 2 million trees will be planted in the first year, steadily increasing in the years to come. The nursery managers will be trained by FBL. The private nursery managers will be given a loan that they can reimburse in seedlings. FBL provides a guaranteed offset of the seedlings. It is expected that this will boost their business and will enable them to diversify their nurseries with many other valuable tree species including fruit trees.The oil production will be sold to local soap factories, and will substitute imported palm oil.•	EnvironmentThe project combines profit with reduction of climate change and improved natural resource management. The plots of the farmers will be fenced by Jatropha. This will lead to a reduction of wind and water erosion and offer partial shade for the intercropping with millet, beans, gumbo, maize etc.•	Position of womenOf the permanent staff, 60% will be women as well as most of the nut collectors. Partners will set up a factory producing non edible oils based on Jatropha nuts, Ximenia and Balanites produced by at least 2,000 local farmers around the village of Leo in the south of Burkina Faso.