Philippines turns to coconut byproduct to boost aquaculture and cut feed costs

PHILIPPINES – The Philippines may soon see a significant shift in aquaculture feed formulation, thanks to new research showing that a locally processed coconut byproduct can successfully replace expensive imported soybean meal in fish and shrimp diets. 

The innovation could offer a much-needed boost to the country’s food security, rural economy, and aquaculture sector.

A two-year study led by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and supported by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) has confirmed the potential of protein-enriched copra meal (PECM) as a sustainable and effective aquafeed ingredient.

Science backs performance, health benefits

The research found that PECM, derived from fermented coconut meal, not only supported healthy fish growth but did so with reduced feed consumption. 

Advanced scientific techniques, such as metagenomics and metabolomics, have shown that PECM positively influences the gut microbiota of fish, stimulating the presence of beneficial microbial species in the digestive tract.

“Fish fed on a diet including PECM maintained healthy growth despite eating less feed,” the researchers reported. “Including PECM in aquafeeds can enhance productivity, reduce input costs, and support national food security,” DOST-PCAARRD concluded.

The Philippines produces an abundance of coconuts, making copra meal, usually a byproduct of oil extraction, widely available. 

Traditionally used in livestock feeds, raw copra meal is known for its poor digestibility, low protein quality, and susceptibility to mycotoxin contamination. 

However, a bioprocessing technique developed by the UPLB Biotech Center has significantly improved its nutritional profile.

Through solid-state fermentation, the resulting PECM now boasts a crude protein content of 36–40%, up from just 19% in unprocessed meal. It also contains 60–95% more of the essential amino acids lysine, methionine, and threonine, all critical for animal growth and health.

Cost savings and commercial expansion on the horizon

The practical implications for the aquaculture industry are substantial. PECM can replace 80–100% of the soybean meal protein contribution in tilapia, milkfish (bangus), and shrimp diets. For poultry, substitution rates of 60–80% are possible, and for swine, up to 40%.

According to researchers, this level of substitution could lead to feed cost savings of PHP900 to PHP2,000 (US$16 to US$35) per metric ton. 

With global supply chain disruptions continuing to inflate the price of imported feed ingredients, the economic appeal of PECM is strong, particularly in regions like Western Visayas, where local producers have already begun commercialising the product.

At the start of this year, the Department of Agriculture ordered the expanded rollout of PECM commercialisation nationwide. This move aligns with a broader government push to revitalise coconut farming and leverage local agricultural resources to boost economic resilience.

Coconut revival supports feed vision

In line with this, coconut tree planting across the country has accelerated under the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who aims to reclaim the Philippines’ status as the world’s top coconut producer. Although the country remains the world’s leading coconut exporter, its overall production lags behind Indonesia.

So far in 2025, some 8.5 million new coconut trees have been planted under a five-year reforestation and agricultural revitalisation program. The target is to reach 50 million new trees by 2026.

Meanwhile, a new aquafeed mill dedicated to alternative feed ingredients, including copra meal, has begun operations in Central Luzon. This facility further strengthens the local capacity to reduce aquaculture feed costs while promoting more sustainable and locally sourced raw materials.

As the nation ramps up coconut production and embraces innovations like PECM, stakeholders in agriculture and aquaculture alike are optimistic. A homegrown solution to rising feed costs and nutritional demands may be taking root, one coconut at a time.

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