By MARVYN N. BENANING
August 12, 2010, 9:28pm
The coconut industry’s big rebound can help increase economic growth, particularly through the commercialization of new products and the maximization of biofuel extraction.
Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) administrator Oscar G. Garin stressed his agency has been researching on the development of new products from coconut, which is cultivated by 2.5 million farmers nationwide.
The industry produces 47 products for the domestic market and 62 for foreign markets, making coconut a strategic agricultural commodity.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has also urged industry stakeholders to intensify work on developing high-value products from coconut apart from virgin coconut oil (VCO), desiccated coconut and biofuel.
Garin stressed the versatile coconut, called far and wide as the “tree of life” has to compete in the vegetable oil market and undertake additional research to promote it as the best oil in global trade.
The PCA administrator explained that the country should exploit its leading role as a coconut producer to develop new technologies and by-products needed by the global market.
Garin spearheaded the celebration of the 9th Coconut Festival and 24th National Coconut Week at the SM Megatrade B Hall 1 of Megamall in Mandaluyong City from August 12 to 15, 2010 with the theme “Niyog-Yaman ng Pinoy.”
Coconut is a renewable energy source and with the entire world seeking greener fuel, the market for biofuel is growing.
The four-day celebration features discussions on the prospects of the industry, investment opportunities and research and development (R&D) of coconut products.
Garin added that experts from various sectors will tackle the following: Filtered Crude Coconut Oil for Power Generation; DoE 2010-2030 Biomass/Alternative Energy Program;Bio-ecological Engineering using Coir and Phyto-remediation Intervention; New Direction in the Processing of High Yield VCO, Coconut Concentrate and High Fiber Coconut Milk; Development of Packaging Technology for VCO; Strategic Marketing of Coconut Products; Organic Certifications for Coconut Products, Updates on Phil. National Standards of Coconut Products; VCO Industry Roadmap for 2010-2015; Research Updates on Fermentation Process of VCO as well as on Coconut Water as High Electrolyte Drink, and; Glycemic Index of Coconut Food Products among others.
New coco products from Coconut House like coco yogurt and coco chill were also introduced along with the launch of two books on coconut written by experts from the PCA and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD.)
The main media partner for the four-day celebration is the Manila Bulletin.
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