World Coconut Congress Presentations

The 3rd World Coconut Congress was held last August 30-September 01 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila. The three-day event had seven conference sessions in plenary including a panel discussion on regenerative agriculture, and 22 speakers. 
The first session with the theme Coconut Situation and Expectations was chaired by Mr. Ramon Rivera, former deputy administrator for Agricultural Research and Development Branch, Philippine Coconut Authority. 
Dr. Jelfina Alouw, Executive Director of the International Coconut Community (ICC), the first speaker of the session, spoke on “World coconut producers’ sustainable coconut farming practices.”  She mentioned ICC promotes sustainable farming practices such as agroforestry and organic farming, both of which contribute to biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of land ecosystems. She emphasized the organization’s commitment to facilitating knowledge sharing, capacity building, research and development support, advocacy for progressive policies, fostering of strategic partnerships, and monitoring of progress.  
Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Deputy Administrator for Operations Roel Rosales provided a quick look at the local coconut situation and outlined the ongoing government intervention programs. He reiterated PCA’s goal, to have a secure and resilient coconut industry with empowered and prosperous coconut farmers.  PCA identified the challenges and risks affecting sustainability of the coconut industry, such as small and fragmented farms, mono-cropped farms accounting for over 80% of farms, high number of landless or tenant farmers, lack of social protection, unfertilized and less maintained farms, climate-related hazards, farmers’ lack of access to capital, and unorganized groups of farmers. He also discussed the government-intervention programs that include infrastructure support and institutional convergence. PCA’s regular programs and projects include coconut hybridization, sustainable planting and replanting, coconut fertilization, coconut village development, coconut-carabao development, and smallholder palm oil development. 
The third speaker was National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon. She said the coconut industry is an enabler to achieve the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), dubbed as AmBisyon Natin 2040 (our vision 2040). She underlined the need to build up the coconut industry so it can contribute much to the attainment of AmBisyon Natin 2040. NEDA identifies key strategies to develop the coconut industry such as organizing farmers into formal groups, strengthening and empowering farmers’ organization; increasing and sustaining productivity; promoting farmers’ welfare and social protection; establishing coconut-based farming systems, agribusiness hubs, and corridors; improving competitiveness locally and globally; and enhancing trade and marketing. 
For the second session, the theme was Coconut Marketing Issues.  This was chaired by Dr. Jhino Ilano, assistant director of the Department of Trade and Industry, Export Marketing Bureau.
Glenauk Economics Managing Director Dr. Julian McGill, the first speaker, emphasized that the demand profile for lauric oil is unique. Its prices in the world market drop along with declining production. For instance, lauric oil prices dipped in 2015 due to the devastation of typhoon Haiyan and in 2019 due to the impact of strong El Niño phenomenon. However, unlike other oils, lauric oil has no alternative. 
On another note, the Philippines and Thailand share many interesting common factors, now including marketing trends and innovations in non-traditional coconut products. This was elaborated by the second speaker, Ms. Peyanoot Naka, Vice-President of the Conservation and Development of Coconut Oil Forum Thailand.  She discussed the innovative industry practices in the Thai coconut sector. Those include developing coconut GAP (good agricultural practices), connecting farmers to supply chains digitally, enhancing transparency and accountability, establishing trust, partnering with farmers, and producing personalized and targeted advertising.  
The last three speakers during the session for Day 1 focused on technical issues and the common misconceptions about coconut oil in the global market. United Coconut Associations of the Philippines Vice Chairman and Virgin Coconut Oil Producers and Traders Association of the Philippines President Marco Reyes outlined the main reasons why “coconut oil is the healthiest oil.” Coconut oil is healthier compared to other vegetable oils which are largely polyunsaturated, which becomes unhealthier when partially hydrogenated to make it more saturated which results into formation of trans fatty acids. His topic was about “Toxins in oil: Trans fats, 3MCPD, GE, 4HNE, MOAH, MOSH, PAH, OMEGA-6, etc.”. 
Dr. Josephine Grace Rojo Tan, a low-carb and fasting practitioner talked about “Confusions on saturated fat, cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease.”  She highlighted how since the later part of 1940s, a misconception against saturated fats like coconut oil had led many Americans to take unhealthier diets without them fully knowing. These days, the truth about coconut oil is becoming more known, making the world understand how choosing it could lead to a healthier life.  
Lastly, Coconut Coalition of the Americas (CCA) Executive Director Len Monheit discussed the topic on “Addressing the biases against coconut oil”.  He shared how his organization is moving to correct misclassification against coconut in the US. According to him, the US Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 identified 8 serious allergen groups—milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. Unfortunately, coconut was mistakenly classified as a tree nut, when in fact, it is actually a fruit. CCA has currently embarked on a long and tedious process to correct this misclassification. 
 
On Day 2 of the conference, the morning session (third session) had for its theme Advances in Natural Health Remedies.  This was chaired by Mr. Reynaldo Pacheco, Jr., CEO of Organix Solutions.  The session focused on the potential and role of the coconut industry in helping improve the health of the people.  It zeroed in on the potential of virgin coconut oil (VCO) and medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil in treating or managing specific heath or medical conditions. 
The first speaker, Jacus Nacis, Senior Science Research Specialist at the Department of Science and Technology - Food & Nutrition Research Institute, talked about “The effects of VCO vs. Covid-19: Learnings from Two Clinical Studies”.  He cited the general results of two different studies in 2020 (conducted in April in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, and November in Valenzuela City). Both studies found that a pre-determined dose of VCO provided by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and mixed into the meals or ingested directly by the patients can promote relief from acute inflammation caused by Covid-19 by normalizing the levels of C-reactive protein.  At the same time, recovery is brought about by resolving the signs and symptoms.
The second speaker was Dr. Fabian Dayrit, Emeritus Professor, Department of Chemistry, Ateneo de Manila University.  He spoke on “VCO: What’s next after covid-19.”  The potential of coconut oil, particularly VCO, as an effective and safe agent against Covid-19 was further discussed by Dr. Dayrit. He cited results from an intervention treatment of 20 mild Covid-19 cases in the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center. Within 28 days, the 20 inmates who tested positive in Covid-19 were initially given supportive treatment and were subjected to VCO treatment from the 14th day onwards. On Day 18, 17 out of 20 patients tested negative; on Day 28, 19 of them tested negative. 
Dr. Vermen Verallo-Rowell, an Adjunct Research Professor at the Institute of Herbal Medicine and Head of Skin Study Group at the UP Institute of Health highlighted the effectiveness of VCO compared to corn oil as an anti-inflammatory agent. In a clinical trial involving 20 moderate psoriasis patients using five clinical measures (sugar, liver, lipids, inflammation, and obesity), it was found that when included in the diet, VCO is more anti-inflammatory, while corn oil is pro-inflammatory. In another international study, when applied topically to skin of psoriasis patients, VCO was still marked with anti-inflammatory properties. 
Lastly, the potential of coconut oil in reversing Alzheimer’s Disease was discussed by Dr. Mary Newport citing her personal story. The medical doctor, author, and international speaker on ketones as an alternative fuel for the brain shared how coconut oil helped bring about improvements to her husband, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s. Dr. Newport explained that coconut oil could lower insulin resistance especially in patients with diabetes. Insulin resistance leading to decreased glucose uptake into brain cells is usually associated with manifestations of different forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s. She emphasized that MCT oil can fill the brain-energy gap by supplying ketones (an alternate fuel) to the brain. 
World Coconut Congress presentations (Part 2) to follow in the next issue of the UWB