Eastern Cape pineapple fibre products are posed to hit local and global markets as the Ndlambe Natural Industrial Products (NNIP) completes the next phase of the province's pineapple project revitalisation.

The project kicked off in February 2009. Now dietary fibre product is being produced at Summerpride Foods on a limited commercial scale, with the first scale-up to industrial quantities due to be complete by October 2011, says NNIP general manager Anthony Albers.

Pineapple fibre production comes at a time when the Eastern Cape economy needs to diversify into other sector streams to better withstand periodic economic upheavals.

According to Industrial Policy Action Plan 2 (I-PAP 2), the agro-processing sector may be key to unlock Eastern Cape's economic potential in terms of job creation and diversifying the province's economy, currently automotive sector dependent.

"ECDC is currently looking at a funding application to upgrade the mini production plant into a commercial operation," says ECDC regional manager Ken Bern.

"We are very excited about this development as it is the first value added project within the pineapple industry based entirely on factory waste that is ready for commercialisation. It will play a major part in achieving a zero waste industry."

ECDC and NNIP have funded the business plan and a 12 month trial using the mini production plant to produce product as sample for the market to test. To date, ECDC has contributed R1, 67m for the business plan and pilot.

Albers says the product got a warm reception from the market and the company is keen to introduce the product to global market.

"The reaction to the product by food processors, both locally and internationally, has been extremely encouraging according to the project team, says Albers.

"Orders for the product have already been received in the local market and negotiations are at an advanced stage in Europe and the USA with companies that have large footprints in these markets."

"ECDC has played a critical role in co-funding all aspects of the pineapple project and its assistance is greatly appreciated by the project team. 

None of what has been achieved would have been possible without the proactive assistance of ECDC and the Department of Agriculture," says Albers.

Albers says the first phase involved the development and commercialisation of a process to convert fruit pulp and peel waste from the processing factory, Summerpride Foods.

High grade dietary fibre fit for human consumption, which has applications as an ingredient in many sectors of the food processing industry was produced.

Meanwhile, pilot trialing on other value added products which have uses in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors is ongoing.