R&D brightens potential of pili nut in int'l mart

MANILA, Philippines - The potentials of Bicol’s pilinut industry in the international market continues to brighten, thanks to R&D.

Take this from Dr. Marissa N. Estrella of the Bicol Consortium for Agriculture and Resources Research and Development (BCARRD), who noted:

“The industry is growing. To date, new product lines have been developed like chocolate-coated pilinuts, use of pilinut tidbits as flavoring for ice cream or fruit cakes, among other products.”

Here’s a more optimistic development, as reported by Estrella, whho is BCARRD’s regional applied communication officer: “Chocolate companies abroad now prefer pilinuts as a substitute for macadamia nut, which is becoming expensive these days.”

BCARRD is one of the 14 regional R&D consortia coordinated by the Los Baños-based Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCARRD).

Indeed, the pilinut (scientific name: Canarium ovatum) has come a long way from the time the first pilinut candy factory was opened in1936 by Antonio Regidor in Albay, reported PCARRD’s Butch Pagcaliwagan.

Studies done over the years have shown that pilinut can be eaten raw, but it is now more popular when it is caramelized, candied, or made crispy or into a polvoron, molido, masapan, tart, and other confectioneries.

BCARRD further said: “The shoots are prepared into salads. From the pulp, oil is extracted. Pilinut oil is comparable to olive oil. Thus, it can also be used as salad dressing. It can control cholesterol levels and is very good for the skin.”

Jose Navarro and Minda Lee, both from Sorsogon, initiated the extraction of pili oil. DOST-Region 5 assisted them in their venture.

“However,” BCARRD averred, “production is still limited. Despite this, the product shows great promise.”

In 2006,more than 116,000 families in the Bicol Region were dependent on the pilinut industry for their livelihood. The pilinut business helped these families send their children to school.

Estrella concluded: “Indeed, pili is Bicol’s tree of hope, especially that the coconut, the tree of life, has been heavily damaged by recent typhoons.”    – Rudy A. Fernandez