World Coconut Congress & Sustainable Coconut Roundtable 2025

The World Coconut Congress & Sustainable Coconut Roundtable 2025 concluded on September 26, 2025.  Held on September 24-26 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, this year’s twin event adapted the theme “Future-proofing the coconut”. The event closed last Friday but opened new directions forward.  
Following is a brief report of the event.  The first day, September 24, looked at the GLOBAL COCONUT INDUSTRY LANDSCAPE.  The speakers, all policy and decision makers leading the industry transformation agreed that the road ahead is lined with opportunities and challenges.  To meet the surging demand for coconut products, responsible rejuvenation of our aging plantation is urgently needed.
The Philippines is addressing the situation, according to Dr. Dexter Buted, administrator and CEO of the Philippine Coconut Authority in his presentation.  With the newly launched Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), an ambitious project aimed at planting 100 million coconut trees by 2028 and whole-nation approach, the country is gearing up for leading the export market for coconuts with high-value products.
The PULSE REPORT 2025 from the Coconut Sustainable Partnership, coconut industry stakeholders are equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to meet the robust global demand for coconut-based product. At the foreground of this growth, is the challenge to undertake sustainable and smart agriculture practices.
In ADVANCING INTERNATIONAL TRADE, lauric oil price watchers described the strong rally in 2025 prices due to tight supply. The question was whether the current high prices are sustainable in 2026. Among influencing factors cited were demand drivers such as evolving consumer preferences and demographics, and regulatory impacts such as policy regulations both in importing and exporting countries.
On the other hand, it was mentioned that coconut oil prices may no longer return to the level of under USD1,000 per ton. Prices may be transitioning into a new normal with higher base price of over USD1,000 per ton CIF Rotterdam linked to higher quality standards, higher traceability and sustainability required, apart from weather issues.  
On the second day, September 25, the congress welcomed medical experts Drs. Mary Newport, Fabian Dayrit, Vermen Verallo-Rowell, and Raymond Escalona as plenary speakers in the session UNLOCKING THE HEALTH POTENTIAL OF COCONUT.  The renowned speakers talked about scientific studies on the important therapeutic properties of virgin coconut oil for many ailments like Alzheimer’s, heart disease, diabetes, psoriasis, likewise the role of coconut oil in gut health, in ketogenic as well as anti-inflammatory diets.  Their conclusion, coconut oil needs to reclaim its rightful place in the pantheon of powerful therapies that are organic and natural.
The featured speakers in the session on INNOVATION AND TRENDS IN COCONUT shared ideas for emerging coconut-based food products like coconut vinegar, coconut water, coco aminos, ketones and monolaurin that are gaining acceptance in non-tropical countries due to the coconut’s remarkable health benefits. 
Apart from the coconut’s food applications, the speakers also presented potential for high-value products in non-food sector like personal care, use of coconut husk-based board in construction, various products from coconut structured lipids. The session also took up the trends in coconut farm management using AI, as well as sustainable branding. 
Day 03, September 26, was SUSTAINABLE COCONUT ROUNDTABLE Day where representatives from the Sustainable Coconut Partnership (SCP) led the discussions on responsible and sustainable industry growth, dubbed as responsible rejuvenation. As the industry reaches record levels in demand, it faces an unprecedented scenario of aging coconut trees and declining yields. To address this twin challenges, SCP calls on all stakeholders to draw on their long experience and adopt technology driven knowledge to come up with smart solutions that have long-term benefits for all.
More reports next week.