The Kasaragod-based Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), which has developed a coconut-based ice-cream product, has transferred the technology to Mangaluru-based ice-cream manufacturer for commercialisation.

Addressing presspersons in Mangaluru on Friday, P Chowdappa, Director of CPCRI, said coconut ice cream is purely a vegan product, as milk is not used in its preparation.

No milk content

The ice cream has been developed using coconut milk, coconut water and coconut pulp. Even those who are allergic to milk products can consume this ice cream, he said.

The CPCRI has entered into an agreement with the Hangyo Ice Cream in Mangaluru for the commercialisation of the product. Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh released the coconut-based ice cream product at the 90th Foundation Day celebrations of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in New Delhi recently, he said.

On the other products developed by CPCRI, he said the virgin coconut oil developed by CPCRI method has rich amount of anti-oxidant property, which is nearly three times higher than the conventional coconut oil.

Neera cooler

CPCRI has also developed a device called ‘coco-sap chiller’ for collecting fresh, hygienic and un-fermented sap (kalparasa or neera). The device is a container with a plastic pouch surrounded by ice cubes for chilling the sap when it starts trickling in.

Stating that more and more enterprises are launching various products based on the technologies developed by CPCRI, Chowdappa said the institute has been able to transfer technologies to around 250 companies in the last four years.

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