The Yoshimura kiln is a Japanese technological development currently being implemented in Cambodia. As an alternative to the inefficient traditional charcoal kilns, the Yoshimura requires 30% less fuel for production, produces a charcoal that is approximately 15% more calorific and shortens the carbonization process from up to two weeks to just nine days. Unlike a traditional kiln, the Yoshimura enables producers to control the carbonization process by making it possible to adjust the amount of heat used. The result is the production of high-quality charcoal in a short amount of time, which makes the Yoshimura kiln much more efficient than the traditional method; and because it consumes less wood, the Yoshimura is also environmentally sustainable. The best part about this is that Geres Association trains community members in Cambodia to hand-build the kilns using local raw materials while following quality standards to ensure their efficiency. Although the Geres Association subsidizes the manufacturing of the kilns, the fact that they can be constructed using local materials makes them very inexpensive to produce. So, the Yoshimura kiln has a unique advantage in that it is much more efficient, effective, and sustainable than the traditional charcoal kiln while at the same time being more affordable and easier to produce.
             Although the Yoshimura kiln is an existing technology, there has been no discussion of implementing it in Cuba, and this is where the opportunity for innovation lies. My idea for One World is to take this Yoshimura kiln technology and create a program that shows workers at private agricultural cooperatives in Cuba how to build and operate the kiln. Ideally, this will involve partnering with organizations like the Geres Association to learn more about this technology and its implementation. Personal contacts in Cuba's agricultural sector will also be instrumental in the development of this program, including...