Beyond Buko: 5 Surprising Coconut Ideas
A coconut may be familiar, but what Filipino entrepreneurs are doing with it is anything but. A college feasibility study has become a Gen Z-run coconut milk business . Surplus coconut shells are being transformed into handcrafted bags while helping provide livelihood to more than 100 workers . And one entrepreneur has developed around 40 products by finding new uses for virtually every part of the coconut. Around 300 Filipino coco-preneurs are transforming the country’s “tree of life” into fresh ideas, innovative products, and businesses ready to grow. These are among the ideas and founder stories waiting to be discovered at the DTI-Bagong Pilipinas COCONUTPhilippines Trade Fair 2026 , now underway at SMX Convention Center Manila until August 30 . “Over the next five days, we bring our coco-preneurs, our buyers, shoppers and partners together under one roof here in SMX as we celebrate National Coconut Week,” said DTI Assistant Secretary Nylah Rizza Bautista during the opening cerem...
