Promising future awaits for Phl coconut farmers

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippines, specifically the 3.5 million coconut farmers are facing a promising future as the demand for coconut-based products, such as Coconut Virgin Oil (VCO) is fast on the rise.

The United Coconut Associations of the Philippines (UCAP) has assured farmers and makers of VCO and other processed coconut products of huge market, not only here but among Asian Pacific producers.

The United States in particular continues to rave over coconut and its health benefits, said UCAP Chairman Dean A. Lao Jr. in a statement.

While there has been misinformation on coconut oil apparently arising from competitor products (soybean oil), UCAP said the sentiment of the US consumer market is to defend coconut products.

“America still loves our coconuts," added Lao.

Scientific studies have linked medium chain fatty acid (MCFA) content in coconut oil to less incidence of cardiovascular disease in studied populations.  MCFA has also widely recognized now as the major ingredient in energy-boosting ketogenic diet.

Based on UCAP record from January to June 2017 coconut export was at $1.132 billion, nearly double the $636 million export for all products in the same period of 2016.

The private-public sector trade group will carry out more programs to attest to authorities scientific proof of coconut oil’s nutritional benefits.

As the Philippines thrives in exporting virgin coconut oil and semi-processed coconut products in bulk, Lao said it is pertinent for Philippines to intensively invest in product research.

Thailand has led Southeast Asian countries in coconut product innovation.

“Thais invest heavily in consumer products,” he said.

In the future, the Philippines’ coconut trade mission should consist of blue chip companies –large companies in the likes of Franklin Baker, Celebes Coconut Corp., Century Pacific Agricultural Ventures, that shall have invested in knowing what the consumer market wants and in developing such products.

Other coconut product innovations are on personal care, petroleum-free consumer products, low-sugar beverage, probiotic-low carbohydrate products, refrigerated coconut in its entire nut with trimmed husk, marshmallow with coconut, coconut granola, virgin coconut oil in its buttery form for cooking or baking, cooking spray coconut oil, and coconut milk creamer.

The Philippines dominates the world as one of the biggest, if not the biggest supplier of coconuts. Every part of the coconut tree and nuts is the source of many products such as the most popular extra virgin coconut oil and coconut water with tender coconut meat, cooking oil, certified organic coco products, coconut flour, personal care products such as the new Laurin, dessicated coconut. — (FREEMAN)