From waste, banana stalk finds new uses

MANILA, Philippines - A government-funded research program has discovered new uses for banana peduncle – the stalk holding banana bunches- potentially providing small growers additional sources of income.

A research project initiated by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) focused on the industrial uses of penduncle fiber and juice. The study was carried out with private fruit grower Unifrutti Corp., University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA).

Every year, about 2.3 million metric tons (MT) of banana peduncle were either thrown as waste or turned into compost.

Researchers discovered that fiber from the peduncle can be used as pulp for paper products and composite fiber boards including resin-bonded and cement-bonded peduncle boards.

The fiber can also be processed into powdered banana peduncle as a source of dietary fiber for making fiber-enriched meat products such as burgers, frankfurters and re-structured ham.

Meat products containing powdered peduncle have higher fiber content, better moisture retention and higher cooking yields. Production costs of these products are also lower.

Banana peduncle juice, meanwhile, can be used to fortify ready-to-drink calamansi juice wih potassium and sodium.

Most commercial sports drinks contain sodium to prevent dehydration and to maintain electrolyte balance.

Peduncle juice can also be used as potassium supplement fertilizer in hydroponics. This can improve the quality of salad vegetables such as lettuce, chives and arugula.

It can also be used as a liquid potassium fertilizer in other high value commodities such as pechay, kale, parsley, carrots, okra, eggplant, and tomato.

“Finding uses for the peduncle other than for compost was challenging,” said researcher Dr. Mary Ann Tavanlar  of the UPLB-based National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.

“Fiber and juice are the main components of banana peduncle. Various products were developed from this lowly material using readily available equipment and simple technologies. Instead of being left to rot in the field, the peduncle can be utilized and thereby can emancipate small-holder farm income,” she added.