The hitherto unexploited opportunities in the coconut industry will be discussed in the First Mindanao Coconut Summit which will be held Thursday and Friday in Mati City, Davao Oriental. The event is under the auspices of the Davao Region Coconut Industry Cluster and the Mindanao Business Council Serving as partners are the Philippine Coconut Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Science and Technology. The hosts are the provincial government of Davao Oriental and the local government unit of Mati City headed by Mayor Michelle Rabat.

The utilization of waste products in the coconut industry will be one focus of discussions. One example is how to convert the vast amounts of coco coir dust resulting from the extraction of fiber from the coconut husk. In this connection, Dr. Rene Sumaoang of Novatech Food Industries, will be discussing how the coir dust could be converted into Durabloom bio-organic fertilizer.

The coir dust could be made into a potent organic fertilizer in combination with chicken manure and other waste products through the use of Biosec that will decompose the materials within 45 to 60 days. Biosec is a combination of beneficial microorganisms and enzymes.

Incidentally, businessman Eric Rabat who has a coconut fiber processing plant in Mati is building a factory that will convert no less than 100,000 metric tons of coir dust into Durabloom fertilizer using the technology of Dr. Sumaoang.

There will also be a discussion on how to convert coconut sap into coconut sugar. Traditionally, the sap is made into tuba, vinegar and wine or lambanog. It is possible that making coconut sugar could be more profitable.

Coco sugar commands a high price and is highly in demand locally and abroad because of its reportedly high health value. It is a sugar in the form of fructose which is said to be better healthwise than the sucrose from sugarcane.

Another technology that will be presented will be a brick kiln that will enable coconut farmers to produce high quality coconut shell charcoal more efficiently than with the commonly used steel drum kiln.

Other speakers will discuss the potentials of growing coffee under coconut trees; the possibility of growing abaca under mature stands of coconut trees; possible intercrops like cardaba banana, and small ruminants like sheep and goats. The outlook on the use of coconut oil as biofuel will also be discussed.

Aside from the lectures and discussions, there will be an exhibition of coconut products as well as a tour of production facilities of various alternative coconut products in the region.