Social Engineering: Optimization of Coconut Oil Production for

Rural Coconut Farmers

Anna Morton

Mentor: Dr. Walter Bradley

Ibajay, Philippines

• Sold cheap to China

• Formed coconut farmers co-op

• Increased earnings 300%

Copra

357 g/nut

50% water 33% oil 17% meal

Raw Cooking Oil VCO

5¢/nut 18¢/nut 37¢/nut

Coconut Oil

• 100 mL per nut

• Solid at 76°F, smokes at 350°F

• >2 yr Shelf life

• 90% Saturated fat– World Health Organization– Harvard Medical School

Large Scale Oil Production

• Reduced quality – Delayed processing– High process temperatures– Bleaching and deodorizing

• Exploitive

Village Level Oil Production

• Empowering Empowering • Good quality Good quality • SustainableSustainable

Dry:Dry:Cooking oil $1.25Cooking oil $1.25

Wet:VCO $11

Dry

Drying

• Temperature

• Time

• Fuel– Make charcoal

Dry

Grinding

• Preheat temperature

• Energy

Dry

Pressing

• Water content

• Energy

• Settling time

Wet

Grinding

Wet

Pressing

• Press type

Wet

Phase Separation

• Temperature

• Time

• Mold

• Water content

Research Questions• Which process yields the most oil?• How long does each process take?• How does the oil quality compare?

– Smell– Color– Hydration

• How much energy is used?– Labor– Fuel

Human Element

• Cultural practicesCultural practices

• Labor requirement Labor requirement

• Worker safety Worker safety

• Gender rolesGender roles

Summary

• Motivation:Motivation:

Increase coconut farmers' incomeIncrease coconut farmers' income

• Solution:Solution:

Village level oil productionVillage level oil production

• Question:Question:

Wet vs. dry processWet vs. dry process

ReferencesReferences

• http://www.kokonutpacific.com.au/• Foale, Mike, “the cocont odyssey: the bounteous

possibilties of the tree of life” Australian center of international agricultureal research

• Joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation on Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases: report of a joint WHO/FAO expert consultation ISBN 92-4-120916-X ISSN 0512-3054

• Berkley School of Public Health, “Wellness Newsletter” Vol. 22 Issue 10

• Harvard Medical School, “Harvard Health Letter” Vol. 32 Issue 11

Questions?