Innovations and trends in the coconut agroindustry supply chain: A technological surveillance and foresight analysis

Abstract

Coconut (Cocos nucifera) is a raw material that has gained particular relevance for agribusiness in recent years. This has come about largely owing to the paradigm shift regarding its genuine nutritional benefits. It is especially due to innovation that has been incorporated into agro-industrial processing and the development of new products, and the fruits of such labor can be seen in the growing demand by consumers around the world. Integrally making full use of coconut, it turns out, is extremely important for agribusiness. Coconut indeed has become a benchmark, not only from the environmental dimension but also from the social and economic perspectives both of the communities that plant it and the agribusinesses that transform it. This study aims to identify technologies, new uses, trends, and innovations related to the coconut agro-industrial chain, as well as their prioritization, by means of a prospective study, using the Delphi method in two rounds. Two methods applied at the methodological level comprised a technological surveillance study by means of a literature review in a SCOPUS database, PatentsInspiration, complemented with commercial surveillance for the four major topics of plastic wood, coconut oil extraction, high salinity and moisture, and small-scale coconut by-products. Moreover, the Delphi method was used, in two rounds, with 178 topics, technologies, and innovations, classified into seven thematic groups. The Delphi was answered by 32 experts in the two rounds. Vantage Point text mining software was also applied for the analysis of the surveillance results. Within the seven thematic groups, the following 10 priority technologies are highlighted: functional phytochemicals, non-caloric sweeteners, coconut milk preservation technologies, water activity and shelf life, coconut sugar extraction methods, batch and continuous drying technologies, lyophilization, coconut fiber and shredded recycled PET, magnetic particle modification of activated carbon derived from coconut shell and biochar to effectively remove phenol from water, and biodegradable packaging for coconut derivatives. In addition, the following topics were prioritized in the sustainability grouper: sustainable agriculture, bioeconomy, family agriculture, and circular economy.

Mapping sustainable supply chain innovation: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis

“…[ 39 ], SSCI can delivers social benefits such as reducing inequalities, improved working conditions, stakeholder engagement, and health and safety standards. It also offers environmental advantages such as a lower carbon footprint, resource efficiency, and biodiversity conservation [ 40 ]. Economically, it leads to cost savings, enhanced brand value, and long-term value creation [ 41 , 23 ].…”

“…Collaboration and alignment are vital for sustainable SC strategies [ 43 ], and organizational Innovation enhances SSCM [ 20 ]. These studies utilize the triple-bottom-line approach to balance environmental, economic, and social performance [ 40 ].…”

“…The SSCI literature shows trends shifting toward a stronger focus on social and transformational Sustainability and knowledge and innovation management integration [ 44 ]. However, economic Sustainability remains a priority for many companies, especially successful SMEs [ 40 , 20 ]. Ongoing research and literature reviews help identify trends, concepts, and models for future research and practical use.…”

“…Recent research has emphasized the importance of sustainable agriculture [ 105 ], food waste reduction [ 110 ], and the impact of food production on climate change [ 108 ]. There is potential in understanding the role of sustainable agriculture in promoting food security [ 62 ], exploring the impact of food production on biodiversity [ 40 ], and understanding the drivers of food waste [ 110 ].…”

Efficient and eco-friendly treatment of wastewater through sustainable purification using agricultural waste and coagulation kinetic modelling

“…Over 50 different types of natural coagulants have been investigated for use in water purification. Among them, biomaterials such as Prosopis juliflora, Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera (Jabar et al, 2020;Rai et al, 2022), Cocos nucifera (Luis-Zarate et al, 2018;Grass Ramírez et al, 2023), Saccharum officinarum (Keeping, 2017;Kerrou et al, 2021) and others have been studied for their potential in wastewater treatment.…”