The biotechnology undergraduate program in our branch campus in Quito and Fundación Chankuap are currently working on a project to create three centers for the distillation of essential oils in the rural communities of Wasakentza, Washintsa and Juyukamentsa, located in the province of Morona Santiago.

The aim of this project is to transport extractive technology of natural products to indigenous communities so that they can process Amazonian aromatic plants in their environment and thus improve their living conditions, explained Larenas, teacher of the biotechnology program.

In December 2020, the first essential oil distillation center was installed in the Achuar community of Wasakentza. This community engagement project consisted of training the technical staff of the Chankuap Foundation and the Achuar technicians of the community, which was led by Christian Larenas and Paco Noriega, researchers and professors at UPS.

The distillers operate in rural Amazonian conditions, without electricity or fuel and without piped water, the design adapts to those conditions. "They are activated with a mechanism known as steam distillation and are cooled in a complementary tank," explained Noriega.

These containers can process 15 kg of plants and obtain from 50 to 100 ml depending on the plant. The process takes 3 hours. "An enriching experience that allows academia to collaborate with Amazonian communities, fulfilling what our mission and institutional vision of working for less privileged groups", said Noruega. 

The plan is to implement other distillation centers in the communities of Washintsa and Juyukamentsa. A technical video is also being created to guide the communities on the installation of these extraction plants.