The worldwide coconut demand has grown rapidly in recent years, surging more than 700 percent and that's brought new interest toward the market, prompting various groups to look to the Caribbean in an effort to revive the coconut industry.

Coconuts are known to be resilient to common climate change effects, whether it be floods, high winds, or some other frequent issue etc, and some farmers have been more than thrilled that coconut crops have provided them a way to profit during hotter, drier seasons.

Together, the European Union (EU), along with the ITC, and Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute, have been working on a project to develop the coconut market in the Caribbean.

Ultimately, they want to revitalize the market and provide new sustainability to the sector.

This includes working with farmers in regions like Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Belize, Antigua, Barbados, and other regions, to get the goal accomplished.

They have been offering seeds, training, and other support, to thousands of farmers across the Caribbean.

The coconut water market today alone is worth billions worldwide already, and this market is expected to only continue growing in the next few years to come.

By 2024, it's estimated that this market will surpass $8.3 billion overall.

More individuals have been reaching for coconut water, coconut oil, and a myriad of other coconut products, helping to fuel a multi-billion dollar market that includes snacks, oil, water, milk, and other items.

Because the demand has been soaring for coconuts, it has been difficult in the past for farmers and the coconut market overall to be able to keep up.

As a result, we have seen shortages, and with a product that has seen a 400 percent boom in exports it's no wonder that many regions might be eager to get this market back on track to meet the demand and then some. A 'coconut crisis' has been described by the media, with various reports suggesting that the Caribbean is ultimately running out of coconuts. But many are working hard to make sure that this doesn't happen.

For years now, various organizations have been working together to make sure that the Caribbean doesn't run out of coconuts.

Their investment and actions have sought to allegedly strengthen the coconut industry, seeking out that investment opportunity, and along the way training and supporting current actors in the coconut market.

In Jamaica they worked with the Coconut Industry Board in partnership to see the goals realized for the market. They wanted to analyze and address issues along the supply chain, from production to manufacturing etc. They admit that they've been making great strides in helping to turn the market around in Jamaica and elsewhere.

Various workshops have been put on all around the Caribbean, giving farmers and others in the industry a chance to utilize the new resources that are aiming to address the different problems in this industry.

Overall, more than $20 million has been invested into this effort.

And with the demand for coconut products still growing, hopefully entrepreneurs within the market will be able to get creative and efficient in meeting those surging demands.

Pics: pixabay