The Solar Cycle Route, an eco-friendly transport system to reduce urban traffic congestion and encourage cycling, is patented and at least 2 cities so far are interested in installing the system.  The Solar Cycle Route is a network of elevated cycle routes with solar panels on its roof, and was invented by CRACYP Executive Secretary Carlos Cabrera.  The system will provide a safe, clean route for users, who can rent a bicycle and enjoy all the benefits of cycling without the worries of cost or maintenance.

The organic management of the sugar cane plantations contributes effectively to the conservation of water in the western cordillera of the Andes in Ecuador.  We have calculated that the 187 producers in the communities of CADO are responsible for the conservation of about 4000 litres of water a minute for the rivers in the area.  We can conclude that the fair trade production of alcohol in the cordillera could be an important reference point for water conservation in other Latin American countries such as Peru and Bolivia if this example was replicated.

CRACYP started a new twice-weekly radio programme from December, with the aim of extending knowledge to local farmers for the effective management of organic agriculture in the area of our sugar cane producing communities.  The programme complements the organic management of sugar cane for the production of organic alcohol, aiming to improve the quality of the finished product.    The export of alcohol to The Body Shop (an international chain using community trade products to produce ecological cosmetics in Europe and the rest of the world) is running successfully with quality meeting the strict requirements of the perfume industry.

CADO, which is the biggest organic community enterprise in the area, effectively complied with the rules for the renewal of organic certification for its sugar cane plantations and distilleries from the certifier BCS Öko Garantie.  CADO also managed to include 85 new families in the exportation process.  The compliance of these new families with the regulations was achieved thanks to the effective work carried out by the technicians and the team in the communities, with an important display of effort invested by 12 communities in the provinces of Cotopaxi and Bolivar. 

CRACYP News, November 2009
CRACYP is responsible for the management in Ecuador of volunteers from Global Routes, an organization that sends young volunteers from the United States.  In 2009, we have received various groups to help the communities of: Bosque de Oro, La Chongona, La Cadena and Tabanal Chico.  Amongst the most important work they carried out in the communities we must emphasise the construction and fitting out of the Health SubCentre for the Seguro Campesino in Bosque de Oro.  This centre now has basic equipment for emergency medical attention.  It will serve more than 500 farming families in  San Luis de Pambíl and the surrounding area.  This and other smaller works have been a great result of effective help from the Global Routes volunteers for the the communities in the area of San Luis de Pambíl.