Inputs

• Money
• Time
• Knowledge
• Expertise
• Materials
• Equipment
• Partners

Activities

• research
• prototyping
• designing
• networking
• visit farms
• educate
• propose Ideas

Outputs

• (Down the road) Social venture focused on introducing and implementing sustainable, state-of-the-art copra processing methods to copra farmers.
• Valued-added products from coconut (one of the options)
• Maximize use of the whole coconut
• Consistency in Quality of Copra (and higher quality of Copra)
• Reduced coconut waste
• Increased nutritional value in copra (one of the options)

Outcomes

      Short-term

• Knowledge and awareness of current drying processes and their shortcomings

      Intermediate

• Reduced the popular use of sun-drying and smoke-drying methods

      Long-Term

• Benefit the economy and communities in the Philippines
• Elevate the livelihoods and Increase income for copra farmers

Goals

Goals for 2020 Spring 

• Research the current copra processing methods and their shortcomings.
• Research current processes and innovations being employed and piloted in the Philippines and other copra processing countries such as Indonesia, India, and Brazil.
• Research other aspects of copra processing, including stakeholders, business, and supply chain.
• Research the state-of-the-art science and technology with a view to product/design and venture creation in the future.
• Connect with students and faculty from the University of the Philippines.
• A proposed design/prototype of our own processing technique
• IRB approval

Spring 2020 Deliverables:

• Lehigh Expo Apri
• GSIF Presentation May 2
• Published paper (challenges and opportunities) highlighting the current processing methods and their shortcomings/what works

Summer Mountaintop Initiative Part 1 (06/01/2020- 06/27/2020)

• Continue Spring 2020 Research by exploring and examining the four potential pathways with regards to design, materials testing, and prototyping
• Investigate the other three potential pathways
• Prepare for the fieldwork

Field Tasks (06/28/2020 – 07/16/2020)

• Collaborate with students and faculty working hands-on from the University of the Philippines
• Conduct market research on copra supply chain and connect with smallholder coconut farmers
• Collaborate with and form strong partnerships with coconuts industry stakeholders

Summer Mountaintop Initiative Part 2 (07/17/2020 – 08/07/2020)

• Evaluate the fieldwork results to determine the social, economic, sustainable and environmental impact of the project.
• Determine which potential pathway is the best to accomplish the project’s mission.
• Continue designing and field-testing products and processes based on fieldwork results.
• Have UPD partners test the design/process/prototype in-country and obtain their feedback during design iterations.