Who we are

CHIBAS (a research center on bio-energy and sustainable agriculture, www.chibas-bioenergy.org) is a not-for-profit organization based in Haiti.  It is an institute founded with the goal of establishing a Regional Technical & Knowledge Center (CHIBAS) that will contribute to developing and acquiring the technologies needed for the development of agriculture in Haiti.  (1) CHIBAS is improving, releasing and promoting the use of improved sweet sorghum and Jatropha varieties as multipurpose crops (food/feed and energy) for the sub-humid and drought prone regions of Haiti; (2) CHIBAS is a technical center to serve the farmers and the agribusiness sector in getting access to the best and most adequate technology and the best agricultural practices; (3) CHIBAS realizes feasibility studies to establish plans for the formulation of project designs (or projects) and investment strategies (including a complete sustainable and profitable value market chain assessment) maximizing incomes for the farmers and the local communities. 

We just started our new Legume (bean, peanuts and pigeon pea) program as well as our new maize program. 

Chibas is a research laboratory associated to Quisqueya University's College of Agriculture (Faculté des Sciences de l'Agriculture et de l'Environnement, Université Quisqueya).  Chibas' director, Dr Gael Pressoir, is the dean of the College of Agriculture and all of our researchers also hold a professor position at Quisqueya University.

March 2016 update 
 
Sweet Sorghum

The goal of our research is the development of an efficient multipurpose crop to provide an alternative source of energy, food and feed in Haiti.

This system would rely on Sweet Sorghum varieties with high stalk sucrose concentration and biomass, stable and significant grain yield and high value of the leaves and other residues as fodder (triple purpose crop).

Trials

Our program aims at the (1) evaluation, breeding, release and dissemination of such improved Sweet Sorghum varieties in Haiti (2) establishment of appropriate agronomic and crop management practices for use in Haiti.

CHIBAS has selected some interesting varieties for Haiti for grain production (Papèsèk which already had been introduced, other varieties are showing to be very promising and should come out soon....) as triple purpose crop (release of Dekabès which means in Creole two birds in one stone, grain + forage + syrup or alcohol as part of our collaboration with CIRAD) and a brown mid-rib low -lignin dual purpose variety (Fouraje, grain + highly digestible forage crop) thanks to our collaboration with INTSORMIL.

Papesek


We have an ongoing breeding program using both a pedigree breeding approach and recurrent selection using the ms3 male sterility system.  We are breeding for an open-pollinated multipurpose variety (ideotype: average height around 2,5 m, grain yield > 4 tons/ha under low input farming, > 3000 - 4000 gallons of juice / ha under low input farming; brix > 17; + good forage quality of the bagasse) 

More on Sweet sorghum  

 
Jatropha

Jatropha

Jatropha is a drought-resistant shrub with a set of unique properties. It helps alleviate soil degradation and prevents wind and water soil erosion, allowing reforestation and restoration of degraded land. Additionally, Jatropha sheds its leaves during the dry season, allowing for soil enrichment and long-term improved soil fertility. It is often used as a living hedge or fence by farmers in the developing world. Jatropha is a bush that can grow in most regions around the equator. It has few requirements with respect to its environment. Because of this, Jatropha can grow in areas that are unsuitable for other plants, because they are too dry or too arid, or because they have been left by humans because of soil depletion.  

However, current information on Jatropha is anecdotal at best; it is not enough for our policy makers to make informed decisions about land use and the promotion of a biodiesel agro-industry. Our project will be providing such science based public information.

Our program aims at the release of improved Jatropha varieties and corresponding seed and propagation technologies along with the best agronomic management practices that will allow for the development and establishment of successful Jatropha agro-systems.

Our planned or ongoing activities

•       Breeding high yielding, high oil, high protein edible Jatropha hybrids

•       Diverse germplasm collection – evaluation & genotyping

•       Ag Best practices

•       Evaluating the Jatropha oil-fuel market (stoves, generators/engines, transportation fuel)

•       Nutritional quality
(Chicken and Tilapia feeding trials)

•       Mapping risks and opportunities

•       Business incubator:  production & transformation

•       Socio-economic impacts studies (growers income, wealth creation, energy and food security)

 

More on Jatropha

 
CHIBAS the lab

 In 2014, we have considerably increased the capabilities of our laboratories
 
 
 lab
 
Partial list of equipment:
  1. FOSS Fibertec 1020 (fiber analysis)
  2. FOSS Soxtec 2043 (Fat content)
  3. FOSS Kjeltec 8100 (Nitrogen content, protein)
  4. FOSS Digestor 2508 (Nitrogen content, protein)
    (with scrubber)
  5. FOSS DS 2500 - NIR
  6. HPLC WATERS 717 with autosampler (UV detector - Jatropha toxicity, phorbol ester content)
  7. Muffle Oven (ash)
  8. Freeze Dryer (labconco 1 liter)
  9. Spectro UV-VIS
  10. Brix meters, conductivity, PH, etc......
  11. Thermal-cycler / PCR
 
Genotyping by sequencing
Thanks to our partnership with Laval University and University of Illnois in Urbana-Champaign we also have the ability to do some genotyping by sequencing on Jatropha.
 
Breeding phenotyping plateform
We are building a high through-put plateform for phenotyping using near infra-red spectrophotometry
Phenotyping

 
 
Yes! You can help

 

Donate to CHIBAS' programs.  Send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to inquire.

Document: Potential of Jatropha curcas for the economic development of Haiti
Edible Jatropha curcas (non-toxic varieties) is a multi-purpose crop (animal feed, and energy) that can contribute to the environmental rehabilitation (reforestation and soil conservation) and the extension of agriculture toward deforested marginal lands in a country such as Haiti.  It would produce locally, and thus replace imports, products for which there is strong demand in Haiti: (1) briquettes from the residues (fruit shell and seed teguments), (2) high protein meal/feed, (3) and biofuels for power plants, stoves, lamps and vehicles.

 

Our sponsor and donors

 

AKOSAA

Our donors

 
 
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