This was the initial finding of a study being conducted by the Los Baños-based Department of Science and Technology-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) headed by director Florence Soriano.
Cooperating agencies in the research project, titled "Wood Preservative Formulation from Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) for Wood, Bamboo, and Rattan", are the H.M. Trading and Cupids and Petals.
The ongoing project is being supported and monitored by the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (PCIERD) headed by executive director Graciano Yumul Jr.
Using CNSL, the project hopes to develop an emulsified wood preservative that would help prevent fungal damage on wood, bamboo and rattan furniture and handicraft products.
"So far, the projects has yet to select the preferred and most stable emulsion-CNSL formulation to control fungal attack in wood and non-wood forest-based products," PCIERD reported.
The council noted that the early stage of the project has indicated positive result in terms of its technical and market visibility.
The cost of CNSL formulation is about 40 percent cheaper than those of commercial preservatives.
"The development of the technology on CNSL application can help promote environmental protection and can help lessen the cost of imported wood preservatives," PCIERD stressed. – Rudy A. Fernandez