Measuring Impact

Research that works for developing countries and Australia

 

Improving value and marketability of coconut wood

Project ID:
FST/2004/054
Collaborating Countries:
Fiji, Samoa
Project Locations
Commissioned Organisation:
Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Australia
Project Leader
Dr Michael Kennedy
Phone: 07 3896 9754
Fax: 07 3896 9628
Email: michael.kennedy@dpi.qld.gov.au
Collaborating Institutions:
  • Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Fiji
  • Coconut Industry Development Authority, Fiji
  • Strickland Bros Ltd, Samoa
  • Ministry of Natural Resource & Environment, Samoa
  • Department of Forests, Fiji
Project Budget:
$520,552
Project Duration:
01/05/2007 - 30/04/2010
ACIAR Research Program Manager
Dr Russell Haines
Project Overview

In the Pacific region, large areas of coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) have grown senile, and copra yields are greatly reduced as a consequence. Production of flooring material from senile stems has been proposed as means of clearing the old plantations while generating some income. There is very high demand for flooring products in Asia, America and Europe, but while market demand is increasing, the supply of suitable resources is decreasing. This project aims to develop appropriate processes and provide the technical information that will underpin the manufacture and broad acceptance of coconut wood in the international high value flooring market.

Project Progress Reports
Year One

The coconut palm, regarded as 'the tree of life', is a significant source of food (the nut) and saleable product (traditionally copra) that provides essential income for villages. Palm senility and associated loss of productivity is incompatible with a perception of sustainable use, and villagers have already demonstrated their willingness to harvest senile stems for a cash return.

The project addresses key issues relating to the acceptance of coconut wood into the high value flooring market. The project is focusing on developing processing systems and profiles for high quality flooring, and defining appropriate grading standards, product specifications and quality control systems. Examining the variation in resource quality will help to define grading rules that will optimise the utilisation potential of cocowood produced from different parts of the palm stem.

Communication and networks
Several initiation meetings and visits to facilities and palm plantation were conducted in Fiji and Samoa by project leaders and technical staff in July, August and September, 2007, continuing to build a network of interested parties and conduct trials with in-country participants. Further meetings with partners and collaborators took place in Fiji and Samoa in May 2008. These generated constructive discussions about progress and future directions.

A network of industry contacts in Australia, Fiji and Samoa has been established, including flooring market and production specialists, potential resource suppliers and processors. In February 2008, the project team briefed representatives from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian High Commission Samoa, Samoan Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Meteorology and Samoan Ministry of Agriculture on the project, which resulted in television coverage in Samoa.

A training workshop for cocowood primary processing (supported by The Crawford Fund) was delivered by project staff in Fiji, September 2007. The 20 participants represented project partners and interested parties from the Pacific region.

A project website 'cocowood' www.cocowood.net was launched in February 2008. It delivers information and news about the project and encourages communication between industry, research and other stakeholders. Website inquiries have been received from North America, Papua New Guinea, Australia and the Philippines.

Characterisation of cocowood resource properties
Cocowood was sampled from the resource in Fiji and Samoa and wood properties are being tested in Fiji and Australia to evaluate moisture content, density, shrinkage, grain deviation. Interestingly, preliminary growth strain measurements indicate tension in lower stem and compression at upper stem, beneath the frond break. These characteristics are different from the growth strain typical of hardwood and softwood woody stems and these data will be the first reported for the trait.

After a delay in shipping the samples to Brisbane, we have begun preliminary tests on mechanical properties and samples have been prepared for workability studies.

Microorganisms that colonise cocowood as it dries cause aesthetic degrade, reducing its value for appearance-grade products such as flooring. Our research underway to identify key microbes responsible for staining will help develop suitable treatments to protect cocowood. Several species of fungi have been isolated from stained cocowood and we are testing which ones leave a permanent, visible stain. We have also begun to address the problem of heavy colonisation by non-staining moulds which could be a risk to cocowood processing workers who have prolonged exposure to mould spores. Preliminary trials have begun in Fiji and Samoa to evaluate potential treatments for preventing the prolific growth of fungi on cocowood as it dries.

Processing systems and profiles for high quality flooring
Boral Timber (Murwillumbah Engineered Flooring Plant), Australia's major engineered flooring manufacturer, is collaborating with DPI&F to develop appropriate processing systems and product designs for cocowood.

Future work will address grading standards, product specifications, quality control systems as well as options for using the low-quality portion (core segment) of the stem.