The natural ingredients industry has been gaining popularity due to the growing consumer awareness

regarding health benefits associated with natural essential oils. These natural ingredients are primarily
comprised of plant, animal, mineral or microbial ingredients present in or produced by nature (Natural
Ingredients Research Center n.d.). They are used directly by end-product manufacturers or as raw
material for processing secondary ingredients (Arroyo et al. 2010). The rising demand for natural
ingredients in medical and pharmaceutical applications coupled with the increasing demand for natural
essential oil as aroma and flavors in food and beverages can be expected to drive faster the demand for
natural ingredients in the Philippines and other countries. It is also expected that the increasing interest
of consumers in natural personal care boosted by a strong economic growth in emerging markets in Asia
will continue to propel natural personal care product sales (Beerling 2013, Ferrara 2013).

With the rise in the global demand, there is an opportunity for the Philippines to venture in natural
essential oil production. One of potential sources is the pili pulp oil that can be extracted from pili pulp
waste. It should be pointed out that while the Philippines dominates the world export market for pili
(Canarium ovatum) products (Gallegos et al. 2013), it has likewise produced pili pulp that is usually
discarded as waste (Pham and Dumandan 2015).

In 2001 Pili joined the ranks of mango, durian, lanzones, rambutan, banana, papaya, and citrus
which are considered priority and high-impact fruit crops. Pili’s inclusion as a sub-network of the
national fruit CPT was formalized during a meeting in Naga city in June last year. The significant
headway achieved by Pili as a food and cash crop with a great export potential can be attributed
considerably to the Pili Development Project in the Bicol Region (PDPBR) started in October
1993 and completed in September 1998 (Fernandez, 2001).

References

Catelo, S. P., & Jimenez, C. D. (2015). An Exploratory Study of the Economic Potential of

Philippine Pili Pulp Oil From Waste Pulp. Journal of Economics, Management &

Agricultural Development, 2(1), 23-27. Retrieved from

https://jemadonline.weebly.com/uploads/2/6/9/7/26975871/jemad_volume_2_no.1.27-

41.pdf

Fernandez, R. A. (2001, May 27). Pili now rated as a high-value crop. PhilStar Global [Manila].