Coconut industry: Global innovation competition launched to promote cooperation
The Secretariat of the International Coconut Community (ICC) has officially launched a global innovation competition to honour the value of the coconut in daily life and inspire global action for the sustainable development of the coconut industry.

As one of the activities to mark World Coconut Day (September 2), the competition features three categories: photography, video, and innovative products from coconut.
This year’s competition, themed “Unleashing the Power of Coconut, Inspiring Global Action”, is open to all participants. Each category will offer three prizes (first, second, and third), with a total prize fund of up to 2,400 USD.
The theme was selected by the ICC against the backdrop of significant challenges facing the global coconut industry, including the impacts of climate change, ageing coconut plantations, declining yields, slow progress in replanting, and a lack of long-term support policies. Meanwhile, market demand for coconut-based products, particularly those considered sustainable and healthy, is rising sharply.
According to the ICC, the 2025 theme not only calls upon stakeholders to explore the full potential of the coconut but also aims to promote cooperation in innovation, accelerate the restoration of coconut cultivation, and build sustainable and equitable coconut value chains.
Entries for the competition should be submitted via email to wcd@coconutcommunity.org before August 14, 2025. The winners will be announced on September 2, 2025. Full details of the competition can be found at https://s.id/wcd-competition-2025.
World Coconut Day 2025, an annual event initiated by the ICC since 1998, provides an opportunity for ICC member countries, including Vietnam, to reflect on the development journey of the coconut industry. It also aims to spark global creativity and potential, contributing to positioning the coconut industry as a driver for economic growth, food security, climate change adaptation, and improved livelihoods.
The ICC has also reaffirmed its commitment to continued close cooperation with the Viet Nam Coconut Association and the Government of Viet Nam in developing the coconut industry.
Established in 1969 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP), the International Coconut Community (ICC) is an intergovernmental organisation comprising 21 coconut-producing countries worldwide, accounting for over 90% of global coconut production and exports of coconut products.
According to the ICC, global coconut cultivation now spans 12.2 million hectares across more than 90 countries, yielding approximately 67 billion nuts annually. In 2024, the global export value of coconut products reached 19.61 billion USD.