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International Workshop Explores Commercial and Industrial Uses of Coco Coir Boards
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An international workshop on environment-friendly, binderless coconut boards (eco-cocoboards) drew industrialists, researchers, scientists, technology developers, business leaders from the international community to a comprehensive discussion and exchange of ideas on the latest technology innovation and experiences in the use of coconut waste materials, specifically coconut husk. Coconut fibers, extracted from coconut husk, are raw materials for processing coconut boards for commercial and industrial applications.
Finding applications for relatively low-value material coconut fiber or coir can greatly contribute to providing economic benefits for low-income producers in rural communities. In most coconut growing countries, coir as by-product of coconut production is regarded as waste material.
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The international workshop specifically focused on the result of work by a team of scientists and researchers which undertook study on the technology development for the use of coir as base material for the production of environment-friendly, binderless, high performance boards that are suitable for the building and packaging industries.
The research work and pilot production activities took place in the Netherlands as well as in the Philippines, where the Philippine Coconut Authority, Fiber Industry Development Authority and Forest Products Research and Development Institute were project partners. The implementation was carried out under the technical supervision of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Intergovernmental Group on Hard Fibers and funded by the Common Fund for Commodities. Along with Wageningen University Research of the Netherlands, the Technological Information Promotion System/WINNER together with the Philippine Coconut Authority collaborated on the planning and organizing the secretariat for the international event.
Held in Tagaytay City in October 2007, the 3-day workshop had participants from Portugal, India, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Indonesia, Netherlands as well as representatives of international organizations and academic institutions, including Wageningen University Research of the Netherlands, Forest Products Research and Development Institute, Philippine Coconut Authority, Asian-Pacific Coconut Community, Ecosecurities, Ecosphere, Philippine-Australia Community Assistance Program, Asian Development Bank, among others.
Shown in photo is Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Edsel Custodio giving the keynote speech to formally open the workshop.
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3/Flr.
Department of Foreign Affairs Building, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay
City, Philippines 2330
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