Partners Meet in Papua New Guinea to Secure the Pacific Coconut Genebank Threatened by Bogia Coconut
More than 27 participants from international and regional institutes and four Pacific countries participated in two workshops, from 24 to 29 April 2015, in Madang and Port Moresby, to develop plans to assist in securing the threatened international coconut collection of the South Pacific, which is held at the Stewart Research Station in Madang, Papua New Guinea (PNG). The threat comes from the Bogia Coconut Syndrome (BCS) disease complex, which is caused by a phytoplasma that not only affects coconuts but also banana and betel nuts.
The disease is affecting these crops in farmers’... read more
Starbucks Corp (SBUX.O) said on Wednesday that its 12,123 U.S. shops would begin offering coconut milk on Feb. 17, as it seeks to keep pace with soaring demand for non-dairy and non-soy milk alternatives.
Starbucks began offering soy milk in 1997. Consumer tastes have since evolved, driving strong demand for other non-dairy alternatives made from products such as coconuts, hemp, rice, almonds and other nuts.
The move from the world's biggest coffee chain also comes as smaller rivals such as Peet's Coffee and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf also offer non-soy dairy... read more
Three Philippine banks said they are considering bids for the government's majority stake in unlisted, medium-sized lender United Coconut Planters Bank - a deal expected to be worth at least 16.1 billion pesos ($360 million).
The Finance Department said on Sunday that in addition to paying for the government's 73.9 percent stake - equivalent to around 1.1 billlion pesos - the winning bidder must inject at least 15 billion pesos in capital.
Security Bank Corp, the country's ninth largest lender by assets, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp (RCBC) and Robinsons Bank Corp, a unit of conglomerate JG Summit...
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