The Forest Products Research and Development
Institute in Laguna, Philippines, has an active research
program that examines the utilization of agricultural
fibers in the production of composition panels.
Much of the research at the institute has focused
on coconut coir (or husks) and banana stalks. In one
study, coconut coir and pineapple fiber were blended
with wood wastes for the production of particleboard
(43). In another study of underutilized agricultural
species (44), banana stalks were blended with wood
chips to make particleboard. Finding uses for banana
stalk is warranted, because each banana tree plant
produces only one banana bunch and the stalks are
generally burned.