UN's software is taken as a reference point by the FAO

In 2008 UN Manizales, represented by Professor Carlos Ariel Cardona Alzate, received an invitation from the Bioenergy and Food Security Program (BEFS) to contribute as a consultant in the FAO for subjects related to bio-energy, alcohol production, biodiesel and biogas.

"Since then, two commitment letters between the FAO and the UN Manizales had led to some concrete results, in particular regarding the analysis of bioenergy potential in Africa and Peru", Cardona Alzate explained.

"Besides, says Professor Cardona Alzate, it was clear to us that the methodological developments involved in the creation of this software should be presented through a friendly user interface, so the various communities located in the countries where the FAO is represented would easily evaluate their bioenergetic alternatives".

First, the software will be implemented in Tanzania (Africa) and then it will be spread to other countries, offering alternative sources of biofuel and opening the possibility of making, together, a strong foundation for economic and social development.

"Various perspectives were involved in the development of the software: techno-economic analysis, agronomy, and even risk analysis when the region is affected by a lack of water", said the Manizales UN Professor.

This recognition ranks Manizales UN among the higher education institutions with greater biofuel experience, and confirms its international trajectory in technologies and raw materials analysis.

"The fact that an organization such as the FAO takes a UN product as a reference point for all its activities corroborates its reliability and helps to improve our research environment", emphasized the investigator.