Environmental and economic analysis of post-harvest technological progress of pili (Canarium ovatum Engl.) processing in the Bicol Region, Philippines

Date

6-2025

Abstract

Pili nut is a flagship agricultural commodity that can be found in the Bicol region, Philippines. Recent developments revealed that the consumption of pili nuts does not raise food safety concerns which opened opportunity for the product to reach the export market. There have been efforts to improve production and post-harvest processing to increase the supply of pili nuts. However, there were no empirical studies that assessed the impacts of technological progress in the pili industry. This study analyzed the environmental and economic aspects of post-harvest technological progress in the pili industry in the Bicol Region, Philippines to recommend policies and programs to minimize environmental impacts of technological progress. It characterized the pili industry in terms of sources and uses of pili fruits, processing technology, and sustainability practices; estimated resource utilization in the processing of pili nuts particularly on materials, water, and energy; determined the financial feasibility of adopting improved post-harvest machineries; and estimated the environmental and economic impacts of technological progress in terms resource utilization and change in income of processors.

Cross-sectional data were collected from three groups of respondents, namely: 15 technology developers, 110 pili nut processors, and 120 pili farmers in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Sorsogon. Financial feasibility was evaluated using partial budget analysis. Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (E-LCA) was used in estimating and internalizing the environmental burden of production systems using the Ecoinvent database particularly ReCiPe v.1.03 midpoint (I) and endpoint (I) categories Finally, benefit-cost analysis was used to determine the economic impact of technology adoption.

Pili fruits in the Bicol region primarily come from the province of Sorsogon. Among the factors that can significantly affect fruit yield include land area planted, number of fruit- bearing trees, number of harvests in a year, and land ownership. The most valuable product tourists in the region. Pili processing is done manually from sorting, de-pulping of pili fruit is the kernel which is processed into different confectionaries that are sold to nutcracking that generates high midpoint and endpoint environmental impacts. Although there are machines available for processing in research institutions, these are not widely used by the players in the pili industry.

Compared to manual processing, mechanical processing of pili using the de-pulper and nutcracker have lower midpoint and endpoint environmental impacts. When scarcity rent of natural resource use (e.g., energy and minerals) was incorporated in economic analysis, adopting pili nut cracker was found to be economically viable. Adopting pili fruit de-pulper, on the other hand was not economically viable due to its relatively low efficiency. This gives an opportunity for improving the efficiency of the machine, coupled with market forces that increase the price of pili nuts, to make it economically viable.

This study introduced prospective life cycle assessment as an alternative approach to determine the financial feasibility and economic viability of technology adoption by incorporating economic prices and scarcity rent. Future research can conduct similar analysis at the farm level and processing of pili confectionaries to complete the cradle-to- grave scope of life cycle assessment. Life cycle costing pertaining to the potential negative health effects of midpoint impact categories can also be performed. Future researchers can also consider the social life cycle of the different activities in the pili industry.

The results of financial and economic analyses can guide the technology developers in determining the machine efficiency needed to make the adoption of the machineries financially feasible, economically viable, and minimal negative environmental impacts. Processors can also use the results of the environmental impact assessment for product labeling to promote sustainable production and potentially increase the marketability of their products. Lastly, the methodology in this research can be used by research institutions in assessing the potential environmental and economic impacts of technology adoption.

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Economics

College

Graduate School (GS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Arvin B. Vista

Committee Member

Nora DM. Carambas, Cesar B. Quicoy, Patrica Ann J. Sanchez

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

En – AGROVOC descriptors

CANARIUM OVATUM; POSTHARVEST TECHNOLOGY; ECONOMIC ANALYSIS; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT; LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS