For week ending Aug. 23, 2007

       Apart from the exhibits where UCAP participated, the festival features policy and technical forum, business forum, products and process demonstrations, and book launching, all of which will be held at the Megatrade Hall 1. Simultaneous events outside of the festival venue were also organized at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel by the Philippine Council for Agriculture Forestry & Natural Resources Research & Development, a Technology & Policy Forum on the Control of Brontispa; at the Cabalen Restaurant, SM Megamall by the Philippine Council for Industry & Energy Research & Development, a Coir Stakeholders’ Meeting.

       The program is expected to maximize availability of cheap resources to coconut farmers particularly fertilizers and pesticides especially as cost of fossil fuel based chemical fertilizers has ballooned in the market. The Korean technology enables farmers to manufacture their own organic fertilizers, pesticides and feeds using indigenous raw materials that are abundant in rural farms. This includes those that are normally considered as waste such as rice husks and rice leaves, coconut husks, and animal manure. Edgardo Amistad, President, UCPB-CIIFF in a statement said, “Our goal is to introduce the coconut farmers to better and more cost-effective farming techniques so they can become more productive”.

       It was previously reported that TEC plans to establish 600,000 hectares of coconut farm either in new areas in Region 1 (Ilocos Region) such as Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and La Union. Carpio said one alternative is to use the wide coastal areas of these provinces. He estimated that opening up new areas for coconut farms would require bigger investment of about P1 million per hectare, while using coastal areas would need only P100,000 per hectare. The venture could require anywhere from P60 billion to P600 billion.

       Export in April went to 27 countries. The top 12 importers held volumes above 100 MT and collectively accounted for 87.5% of total trade. Leading the pack was Germany with 434 MT (12.6% share), followed by Saudi Arabia with 408 MT (11.8%), U.A.E/Dubai with 369 MT (10.7%) and Portugal with 308 MT (8.9%). The next eight countries had market shares between 4% and 7.8% namely, UAR/Egypt 272 MT, Spain 250 MT, Turkey 227 MT, France 172 MT, Netherlands 159 MT, USA and Iran 140 MT apiece and Pakistan 139 MT. The remaining 15 countries which aggregately bought 12.5% of total sales took in volume ranging from a low of 2 MT to a high of 92 MT.

       Global demand for edible oils is expected to increase by 4 million MT in the 2007/08 season, with biodiesel and energy sectors accounting for a quarter of the growth. World edible oil production is expected to rise by around 900,000 MT. Crude palm oil (CPO), which reached record price levels in 2007, is likely to see output bounce back strongly after a marginal growth last year due to unfavorable weather for growing. “Palm oil has nothing but good news on the production front for 2008 and 2009, given high prices, rapid expansion of acreage and liberal use of fertilizer. A sustained rise in CPO production could tell us with confidence that prices need to fall by 10%”, Mr. Mistry explained.

       If left in biodiesel, glycerol can damage engines. However, the new technique simply washes it out of the fuel. The ionic liquid that was developed uses a complex of choline chloride with glycerol to extract more glycerol out of the biodiesel. The Leicester process is greener than traditional processes and effectively provides a sustainable methodology for the purification of biodiesel without the production of significant waste. Professor Abbott said further research to optimize the ionic liquid recycling and recovery of glycerol need to be done.

       The Minister said biodiesel manufacturers interested in supplying biodiesel should register with state-level coordinators, adding that priority in registration would be given to producers who propose to manufacture biodiesel from non-edible oils. Oil marketing companies are to decide on a uniform delivered price for buying biodiesel which would be valid for six months and reviewed thereafter. The ministry has identified 20 biodiesel procurement centers in nine states.