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Cuckoo For Coconuts

Last Updated (Saturday, 10 January 2009 16:05) Written by Raymond Nakamura

On a recent "science retreat" to Puerto Vallarta, I was on the beach, contemplating the effect of the angle of the sun on uv radiation levels and the relationship between wave height and boogie board velocity, when I noticed a man selling coconuts. He carried a mesh bag of them and upon receiving an order, would hack open the thick green husk with a machete to get to the hard nut inside. The then broke this open to get at the liquid and the flesh. Seemed like a tough way to make a living and he left the husks on the beach.

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The coconut palm is called the tree of life in many places, where people use it many different ways. Scientists at Baylor University have figured out a use for the husks to create a material for the interior of cars. It seems they started by looking at ways to use coconut oil in diesel engines and ended up wondering about what to do with all the leftover husks. They hope to increase the demand for coconuts to raise the standard of living for coconut farmers in poor tropical nations around the world.

What do you think about this strategy?

Should governments make the use of coconut interiors part of the bailout for the Big Three?

 

Comments  

 
0 #3 re:rosario — Lap 2009-01-26 11:41
Enlightening. Good call.
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0 #2 Excellent Idea!!! — Rosario Lee 2009-01-17 13:59
I grew up in the coconut world. There so many uses pertaining the coconut tree. As a farmer, one will never overharvest the coconut. There always be the need for the meat for oil,toppings,mi lk etc.There is always a use for the whole coconut, from the water,meat,shel l and husk. Even the tree itself when it does not bear fruit anymore can be used for coco lumber.
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0 #1 bailout — Lap 2009-01-14 15:42
I feel that it's a neat way to use the unused ingredients of a product for a different purpose. However, I would disagree in it being the cause for increasing the demand of the product. If the demand for coconuts do not increase along with the demand for the husks, I can see 2 possible situations. One, farmers will over-harvest coconuts possibly causing some kind of unpreceived problem. Two, with so much left over actual coconut, the pricing for coconut will have to go down in order to sell more. Ofsetting the revenue. I am neither an economist nor someone in business, but those were the ideas that came to mind.
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