Coir pith and husk processing project in Mati, Mindanao Philippines (Growrite Substrates Philippines Corporation) This project has been cancelled, due to economic/commercial developments that had a bad influence on the market opportunities. Also the partners could not find a third investing partner to strengthen the consortium.The project will establish a processing plant which will process waste coir pith and husks into high value agricultural substrates with a capacity of 6,000 Mtons year. World demand for high value coco-peat substrates is growing rapidly (10% to 15% per year). Products will be marketed primarily in Asian and US markets. The applicant already operates similar processing plants in Sri Lanka and India producing mainly for European markets. While there is already production of low value coco-substrates in the Philippines, processing of high value coco-substrates including mechanical drying is new. The project will reduce waste problems at (existing) coir fibre mills and will add value to the husk and thus raise income for farmers. The project will also run a research programme aimed at quality improvement of coco-husk and indirectly stimulating profitability of coconut farming. The production plant will employ 58 persons.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The joint venture company Growrite Substrate Philippines will adhere to the Van der Knaap group CSR policies and will become UN Global Compact participant adhering to the Ten Principles. The company will ensure clean and healthy working conditions (and facilities like toilets and canteen). Next to normal salaries, the company will provide housing allowances, ensure the weekly availability of medical care to employees and their families and provide a free meal daily to workers. Workers are free to join unions and will have free access to the employee manual.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe company will employ 58 FTE (3 senior management, 7 middle management, 3 research and development, 45 workers).Standard local wages will be paid with secondary remuneration in housing allowances, medical assistance and group insurance and a free daily meal. In addition bonus salary up to 10% can be earned.The project will offer a group insurance to its workers and will contract a doctor who will receive the workers and their direct families once a week.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeThe project will add a new element to the value chain in the coconut processing sector i.e. upgrading the present waste products husks and coco pith into high value horticultural substrates. The project will introduce the required new technologies and skills. Furthermore, the research activity under the project will generate information about new coco nut tree species with easier growth and more production so coconut growers will be able to generate better returns of their businesses in the future.•	Chain effectsLocal communities around the present coir fibre processor will benefit since the project will absorb a share of the present waste coir pith now dumped in nature. At least 5 coconut processors (fibre and coconut based foods ) will benefit from getting rid of their waste. Trained coconut growers (at least 20) will benefit as suppliers of uncontaminated husk at higher prices. Furthermore, transportation companies and export agents will benefit in transport and shipping of containers and finally the micro economy surrounding the project, as suppliers of food, garages for maintenance of the cars, etc.•	EnvironmentThe project does not create risks to the environment. It improves the environment by reduction of dumping of important quantities of waste coir pith from coir fibre mills. The saline water produced by washing of the raw coir pith will be used in watering of the research/demonstration plot where coconut trees grow well on salty water. An Environmental Impact Assessment will be executed.•	Position of womenMost of the key positions within the project will be occupied by women, the Managing Director (1 FTE), the whole quality management department (4 FTE), HRM (1 FTE), the finance and bookkeeping (2 FTE) and the logistics department (1 FTE). Of fourteen management positions, nine are for women. For the workforce, the choice between women and men will be determined by the physical workload of the job. An expected 35% of the functions can be filled by women. To establish a sustainable business in processing and marketing of coir pith and coconut husk into high value horticultural substrates for export markets with a maximum output capacity of 6,000 metric tons annually.