Unlocking Nature’s Bounty:

Validating a Breakthrough Method for

Higher-Yield VCO Production
Optimized VCO Production via Natural Fermentation
First and foremost, a big and warm thank you!
Thank you for giving me this opportunity collaborate with your company. While we had briefly discussed what my research project is
about, I would like to give you a detailed introduction and explanation of my background, my thought process, and what I would like to
achieve in Virgin Coconut Oil Research.
A Steady Growing Industry
The potential for VCO still stands strong as it’s US Market is predicted to increase in the next ten years.

9.0%
CAGR from 2023 – 2030

2.6 Billion USD

Market Size by 2030

Food and Beverage

Natural Cosmetics
Major Market Drivers
Philippine VCO Industry
The local market is already taking part in exploring the potential of this industry.

1.15 M Tons of Virgin Coconut Oil was exported in 2022

From 2021 data, according to Yvonne Agustin, executive

Up by 31% director of industry group United Coconut Associations
of the Philippines.

US and Europe are the major export markets

“The biggest challenge is
to improve the yield,”
Bernie Cruz
It’s still our no. 1 dollar earner of Head of Philippine Coconut
all agricultural products, Authority
in an interview with Bloomberg
Hi! I’m Marielle 

I’m a Food and an

Technologist Industrial Engr
● BS Food Technology (2014 -2019), ● MS Industrial Engineering (2021 –
UP Diliman present)
● Professional Food Technologist ● DOST ERDT Scholar
(Licensed August 2023)
As a Quality Assurance As a Research for
Officer DOST-PCIEERD
I have worked as a QA officer ensuring the I have worked as an SRS I for the VCO Project.
quality of multiple product lines (pasta, oats, We have developed the guidebooks for HACCP,
sauces, etc.) GMP, and SSOP.

As an MS Industrial
Engg Student
Experience Now, I am working towards gaining my
A culmination of different Master’s Degree, I have focused on assisting
disciplines this industry which is close to my heart.
What is the problem?

31% 30% 16%

Expeller-Pressing Centrifugation Natural Fermentation

Compared to the other three processes, the process of Natural Fermentation is lagging in terms of
yield.
Research Goal:

Increase the Yield of Industry-

scale Virgin Coconut Oil
production via Natural
Fermentation
Identify the optimal process for VCO Natural
Fermentation Production

1 2
Why VCO? Why Natural Fermentation?
To maximize potential Because is it the process most
Better compete with other VCO commonly used by a majority of VCO
producing countries producers

3 4
Why Yield Improvement? Why so simple?
Since compared to other extracting Because what I learned from IE: improvements
technologies, VCO-NF has the lowest can be achieved even by just optimizing what is
yield already available in the system
Me
Phase I Phase II
tho
dol Lab – Scale
Optimization
Industry
Validation
og Determine the optimal
conditions using lab-
Validate optimal
parameters in the
y scale production industry setting
Phase I: Optimization (Done)

Stirring Time
14 mins Yields can go up to

M:W Ratio
1:1.2 Milk to
Fermentation
Time
32%
*
Water Ratio 47.5 hours
Phase II: Model Validation Industry Scale
1500 nuts per day

Optimal Parameters

Replicate 1 Replicate 2 Replicate 3

R 1+ R 2+ R 3
Average Yield %Applicability
3

This is where our collaboration takes place 

Collaboration Benefits
Technical Assistance
I will personally go to your production facility while
conducting the runs

Production Expenses
Expenses incurred during production have allocated funding

Improved Yield
Ideally, this research improves the yield of your product by an
additional 16% (Double)
Target Month of Visit: April 29 – May 3

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Today: April 8

Coordination

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Preparation
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Preparation, Canvassing

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Target Run
April 23: Replicate 1
April 24: Replicate 2
29 30 1 2 3 4 5 April 25: Replicate 3, Quantify Rep 1
April 26: Quantify Rep 2
April 27: Quantify Rep 3
Questions
Run Details
1. Can you give me a specific run down of your process?
2. How long do you usually process 1500 nuts?
3. How can we incorporate the stirring step?
4. How can we measure coconut milk used?
5. How can we measure VCO produced?

Other
1. Do you have any recommendations for accommodation during visit? (Short
Stay, Budget: 700 - 800 per day)
 Thank You!
Feel free to reach out to me for any questions.