Resources & References

Glossary

Agroforestry

Land-use system combining trees with crops or livestock; malunggay hedges on boundaries are a common PH example.

Ben oil

Oil pressed from moringa kernels, ~70% oleic acid, exceptionally shelf-stable; named for its “behénic” fatty acid fraction.

Coppicing

Cutting a tree to a stump to force multiple new shoots — the physiological basis of moringa leaf hedges.

COA

Certificate of Analysis: lab report of a product batch's tested parameters (moisture, micro, heavy metals).

CPR

Certificate of Product Registration issued by FDA Philippines for processed food products.

Farmgate price

Price received by the farmer at the farm, before hauling, trading, and processing costs.

FFJ / FPJ

Fermented fruit / plant juice — organic inputs used in organic moringa programs.

Fresh-to-dry ratio

Kilos of fresh leaf needed to make one kilo of dry powder; moringa typically 4–5:1.

GAP

Good Agricultural Practices — audited farm-level food-safety certification.

Glucosinolates / isothiocyanates

Sulfur-bearing plant defense compounds; moringa's (moringin) are studied for bioactivity.

HVCDP

DA High-Value Crops Development Program — the program under which moringa is promoted nationally.

IPM

Integrated Pest Management: monitor-prevent-intervene pest control minimizing chemical reliance.

Leaf webber

Caterpillar pest (Noorda blitealis and relatives) that webs and skeletonizes moringa flushes.

Mesh

Sieve fineness for powder particle size; 40–80 mesh is common for moringa powder.

PGS

Participatory Guarantee System — a locally-focused organic quality assurance recognized under RA 11511 for domestic markets.

Pollarding

Heavy cutting of branches to regrow a compact crown; used to rejuvenate moringa trees.

Recovery rate

Usable finished product as a share of raw input (e.g., 80% leaflet recovery after stripping).

Stool

The perennial base of a cutback shrub from which new shoots arise.

Turgor

Cell water pressure keeping leaves crisp; highest in the early morning harvest.

Viajero

Itinerant trader who buys produce from farms and consolidates for markets.

GMP

Good Manufacturing Practices — hygiene, facility, and documentation standards expected of food processors.

Lot number

Code identifying a production batch; the unit of traceability in records, tests, and recalls.

Mass selection

On-farm improvement method: score many plants, keep the best, cull the rest, repeat.

Mother block

Orchard of vetted selected trees maintained as a source of seed and cuttings.

Fortification

Adding a nutrient-dense ingredient (e.g., moringa powder) to a staple food at a set percentage.

Philippine agencies and organizations

• Department of Agriculture (DA) — da.gov.ph — national programs incl. HVCDP.
• FDA Philippines — fda.gov.ph — product registration, labeling rules.
• Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) — bpi.da.gov.ph — seed import permits, phytosanitary certificates.
• PhilMech — philmech.gov.ph — postharvest mechanization, dryer support.
• DOST–PCAARRD — pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph — agriculture R&D coordination.
• DTI — dti.gov.ph — business name registration, OTOP, trade fairs.
• PCIC — pcic.gov.ph — crop insurance for typhoon/drought risk.
• Moringaling Philippines Foundation, Inc. — private industry association of moringa growers and processors (contact via its official Facebook page and industry events).

References and further reading

Key literature and institutional sources that informed this knowledgebase. Numbers in chapter text refer to the ranges compiled from these works.

1. Gopalakrishnan, L., Doriya, K., & Kumar, D. S. (2016). Moringa oleifera: A review on nutritive importance and its medicinal application. Food Science and Human Wellness, 5(2), 49–56.
2. Leone, A., et al. (2015). Cultivation, Genetic, Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Moringa oleifera Leaves: An Overview. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 16(6), 12791–12835.
3. Foidl, N., Makkar, H. P. S., & Becker, K. (2001). The potential of Moringa oleifera for agricultural and industrial uses. In: The Miracle Tree / Development Potential of Moringa Products, CTA.
4. Ferreira, P. M. P., et al. (2008). Moringa oleifera: bioactive compounds and nutritional potential. Revista de Nutrição, 21(4).
5. Palada, M. C., & Chang, L. C. (2003). Suggested Cultural Practices for Moringa. AVRDC International Cooperators' Guide.
6. Radovich, T. (2009–). Farm and Forestry Production and Marketing Profile for Moringa — Specialty Crops for Pacific Island Agroforestry.
7. Sanchez, M. D., et al. — The moringa industry in the Philippines: status, challenges and opportunities. Acta Horticulturae (2015 industry review by Philippine researchers).
8. Moringaling Philippines Foundation materials and DA-HVCDP promotion on moringa production and entrepreneurship.
9. PhilMech success stories on moringa leaf powder processing enterprises (2022).
10. Peer-reviewed drying studies: e.g., Effect of drying temperature on physicochemical properties of moringa leaf powder, Livestock Research for Rural Development 33 (2021) — 50–55 °C optimum window.
11. Agriculture Magazine / agriculture.com.ph reporting on malunggay markets, prices, and the “green diamond” agribusiness framing (2022–2026).
12. Tridge commodity price monitor: Philippine dried moringa farmgate series (2024).

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