“Raise the bar and set higher goals for the essential oils industry.”
This was the message given by Science Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr. as he challenged essential oils industry partners, government counterparts and funding agencies, while exploring the many opportunities to advance it.
This occurred during a recent online consultative dialogue that gathered various key players in the local essential oils industry.
Organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI), the event has the theme, “Investing on the Science, Economics and Sustainability for the Inclusive Growth of the Philippine Essential Oils Industry.”
The event underscored the current status of the sector, and covered issues on the production, processing and marketing of essential oils, among others.
Former Science secretary Prof. Fortunato T. de la Peña, meanwhile, emphasized the need to continually collaborate with various stakeholders to “create a globally competitive and sustainable forest flavors and fragrances industry in the Philippines.”
Environment Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, in a message delivered by Assistant Secretary Marcial C. Amaro Jr., recognized the need for science-based strategies to ensure the sustainability of the industry.
Yulo-Loyzaga also assured the industry of DENR’s commitment on “efforts to harmonize forest policies to sustainably utilize finite forest products for essential oils.”
Discussions during the dialogue centered on the local industry’s best practices on sustainability, traceability and socially inclusive development; product and enterprise development, including the use of locally sourced ingredients, such as ylang-ylang, almaciga, kalamansi and sampaguita that are “very Filipino”; and sustainable and responsible sourcing of raw materials that covered initiatives on agarwood and citronella processing and production.
Russell Lorenzo of Casa de Lorenzo Organic Products talked about some of the challenges in penetrating the global essential oils market, which include the lack of testing facilities specializing in aromatics; locally available equipment; scale and pricing; foreign competitors; hard-to-find local experts; and quality.
Artisan Perfumer Oscar Mejia III of Scentsories Inc., meanwhile encouraged more Filipinos to venture into fine fragrances industry because of the country’s vast natural resource of aromatic plants, and the Philippines’ distinct place in the “world history of fine fragrances.”
“Every scent has a story. Our fragrances are works of art. I hope that in every whiff, we can celebrate our rich cultural heritage,” Mejia said.
Elizabeth Pahilan of the Department of Trade and Industry-Board of Investments, on the other hand, discussed the promising market prospects for orange and lemon.
For her part, Oryspa Spa Solutions’ Sherill Ramos-Quintana emphasized the importance of building the Filipino brand identity: “Export the brand not just the products.”
Meanwhile, DOST agencies presented their various R&D, technical assistance and training initiatives on essential oils, including the establishment of extraction facilities, and the 2021-2025 roadmap for the Natural Products Program.
DOST shared its support programs that include the Science for Change Program, Start Up Research Grant Program, and the DOST SETUP, which would-be entrepreneurs can tap for their ventures.
“DOST’s goal is to work closely with other national government agencies and help them address the problems of their respective stakeholders. As a research and development institution, DOST-FPRDI continues to provide innovative and timely solutions to the challenges faced by the various forest-based industries, communities and stakeholders in the country,” Solidum said.
The consultative dialogue is in line with the institute’s Flavors and Fragrances from the Forest Technology Program (F3TP) that aims to tap underutilized non-timber forest products for food, medicine, flavors and essences.
In the next 10 years, F3TP’s goal is to contribute in creating a globally competitive and sustainable forest flavors and fragrances industry in the Philippines.