Century Pacific expands coconut seedling aid to Filipino farmers

Insider Spotlight

• Coco Mama pledges another one million coconut seedlings over five years to support Filipino farmers
• The initiative aims to replace aging trees, improve farm productivity and strengthen smallholder livelihoods
• CNPF and Vita Coco committed a combined two million seedlings to help secure the Philippine coconut industry's future
  
  
  
  

Century Pacific Food Inc.  is expanding its support for Philippine coconut farmers, pledging another one million seedlings through its Coco Mama brand to help replace aging trees, improve harvests and strengthen the industry's long-term supply.

The five-year commitment, implemented with impact organization HOPE under the Save Our Coconuts program, addresses declining coconut productivity while providing smallholder farmers with opportunities to improve their livelihoods.

Why it matters

About 20 percent of Philippine coconut trees are aging, threatening yields and the income of farming communities. Replanting can help restore productivity, protect future coconut supplies and support the sustainability of the country's coconut industry.

About 20 percent of the Philippines’ coconut tree population are aging already, meaning yields are severely declining. At the same time, smallholder coconut farmers are among the most marginalized with limited resources to sustain their livelihoods,” CNPF emerging brands general manager Bryan Lingan said in a statement. 

“By donating and planting one million quality seedlings we hope to build a more resilient coconut supply chain where farming communities, the environment, and the business can mutually benefit and thrive.”

Building on earlier efforts

The latest pledge follows CNPF's first million seedlings donated and planted in 2022 alongside GCash and HOPE, according to a company release.

Beyond seedlings, the expanded initiative will provide farmer education and market access assistance, helping growers improve productivity and connect with commercial opportunities.

HOPE managing director Ilusion Farias said, “We’re looking forward to continuing this commitment with CNPF. From CNPF’s first million and now onto the next million trees, what keeps us going are the smallholder farmers whose lives we get to touch.”

Bigger industry commitment

Vita Coco, CNPF's longtime export customer, has matched Coco Mama's pledge with another million seedlings, bringing their combined new commitment to two million nationwide.

The initiative supports Vita Coco's broader ambition to distribute and plant up to 10 million coconut trees globally by 2030.

Coco Mama launched its commitment during World Coconut Day on September 2 in General Santos City, alongside farming communities, industry partners and brand ambassador Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo.

For CNPF, the initiative also helps secure sustainable coconut sourcing as Coco Mama expands its packaged coconut cream business. — Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma