Potential for profitable coconut production in northern Queensland

摘要

Although there is no tradition of coconut (Cocos nucifera) production in tropical Australia, there are subcoastal environments where it could be highly productive. On good quality, well-watered sugarcane lands the coconut is potentially quite productive and also could add some environmental amenity to the land. A lucrative market for home-grown fresh fruit could be developed. Technology for processing to high-value virgin oil on an appropriate scale has been refined already for small-island situations, and virgin oil technology might find an Australian niche in some situations. The presence of an Australian-based coconut industry, even on the most modest scale, might help in persuading Australians that coconut is a valuable health-promoting food. Turning the attention of Australian food researchers to coconut would provide an opportunity to redeem coconut oil from its bad reputation, which was constructed solely by competing oil marketers.