Dairy Project "Vaca Diez, Bolivia" Note: This project has been cancelled, because it has been withdrawn by the applicant.Bolivia has large tropical regions that are isolated from the main populated centres. Transport infrastructure is of very poor quality and climatic conditions result in rapid deterioration of all kinds of fresh food.Specifically, fresh milk is only available, in small quantities – for a few hours early in the morning – being sold on open markets directly from farmers to the consumer. There is no cooling, no quality control whatsoever, and the consequences for public health can be imagined. Alternatives are powder milk and sterilised (UHT) milk that are produced elsewhere and arrive in the region at high cost.Lekkerkerker Dairy & Food Equipment B.V. is manufacturer of dairy equipment and operates an own dairy plant in the Netherlands. BioAgri, runs a farm in the Beni department in Bolivia. These project partners now have the intention to implement a self-sustainable dairy production farm with processing plant (according to international quality standards), between Riberalta and Guayaramerin. Products will be distributed with an own cooled truck, and – specifically for the school milk programme – special cooled dispensers will be placed at 38 schools.The milk will come from local partners' own 640 ha farm, where the new dairy processing plant will be located. Expected daily milk production is 3,000 litres after two years and 5,000 litres after 4 years. The plant will produce pasteurised plain and fruit flavoured milk. This processed milk will be distributed in the region with a population of 200,000 people.The project will create direct work for 10 employees at the farm and dairy plant, as well as indirect work for some 30 small farmers who will supply fresh fruit.New in this project is the commercialisation of fresh pasteurised milk in the area, as well as the distribution to schools through 20 litres containers that can be placed directly into dispensers, which eliminate all manual handling of the milk, and do not require the addition of (doubtful quality) water on the spot.The end price for the consumer of pasteurised milk will be lower than the current alternatives, and the taste is also much better, resulting in a higher acceptance by the school children.The farm and the plant, not being connected to the national power grid, will operate on electricity generated with a diesel generator. The generator will be fuelled by biofuel extracted from Jatropha seeds that will be grown on 65 ha on the farm, and processed with a transesterification unit from Solarix, a subsidiary of Lekkerkerker.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)All fresh cow milk will be pasteurised and only natural ingredients will be used in all products. The dairy plant will apply CSR policies, including safety guidelines and workplace health. Women will be given equal opportunity to get any position including management positions.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsAt the end of the project 10 fulltime employees will be working at the joint venture. Two years after the end, this will be 12 FTE.Wages paid for basic-level employment will be at least twice the Bolivian minimum salary of BOB 700 or 140 euro per month.To ensure good working conditions the employees will receive 30 holidays per year and a 13 month salary. The employees will receive a pension savings plan. The monthly pension costs will be paid for by the joint venture for 50%.All employees will have health insurance.At the milk plant and the dairy farm, employees will receive daily meals, professional clothes and shoes.•	Innovation/Transfer of knowledgeAlthough none of the knowledge brought into the joint venture is new for Bolivia, a substantial part of it is new for the region:- Industrial production of pasteurised milk.- Operation of a professional milking station.- Mechanical soil preparation.- Silage of grass and corn.- Husbandry of high production dairy cows.•	Chain effectsThe main effects on the chain are the 100,000 kg per year fruit supply contracts that will generate income for at least 30 small fruit producers. In a second phase the joint venture will also buy 2,000 litres of fresh milk per day from local farmers.•	EnvironmentThe impact of the project on the environment will be neutral. Process water from the processing plant will be (re)used for irrigation of the farm and all electric power for the plant as well as fuel for the farm equipment, will come from self-produced biomass.•	Position of womenAround 50% of the workforce will be women, who will take basic, medium- and high-level positions. To implement a self sustained dairy plant, with a production capacity of 3,000 litre per day of pasteurised milk (plain and fruit flavoured), in the Riberalta region.