The commercially dominant interest in coconut has been focused
on its oil, which remains up to date, the most important product of the
coconut processing industry. The oil is normally obtained through the
so called “dry-processing”, in which, open air desiccated coconut
endosperm (copra) is ground and heated to release oil under
mechanical compression or solvent extraction. The spent copra meal
contains appreciable amounts of protein (18–25% on dry basis)
(Mepba & Achnewhu, 2003), but the dry process results in an
important protein quality loss, due to high processing temperatures
and traces of organic solvent left in the end products. Additionally
mould growth and related sanitary issues make the spent meal unfit
for human consumption.