An integrated coconut sap processing facility will soon rise in Negros Oriental, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) announced on Friday, Aug. 27.
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said a memorandum of agreement (MOA) has been signed by DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) and DOST VII with San Jose-based Rockland Farms to assist the coconut farm in setting up a facility for the production of natural sweeteners from coconut sap.
"Coconut sap sweetener is a premium product marketed towards people with diabetes and health-conscious individuals because of its lower glycemic index than cane sugar.Project implementation will start in October 2021,” he said during his weekly report on Friday.
He said Rockland Farms houses around 1,000 fruit-bearing trees that produce copra.
"However, in 2020, many coconut farmers all over the country saw the price of copra falling. Thus, it led the company to search for new products from coconut. It is through this search that they found coconut sap sugar and ITDI,” de la Peña said.
With the signing of MOA, he said the ITDI team will push through with initial inspections and develop a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant plant layout in October this year.
“Before the end of the 12-month partnership, the project hopes to see a complete and sufficient commercial-grade coconut sap sweetener production.”