Axel Farm at ACEBA Forum: How One Samar Farm Is Proving Circular Economy Works
Resilience in the Face of Adversity
On October 8, 2025, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck Northern Cebu, causing PhP 3 billion in damage. The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry was scheduled to co-host a circular economy webinar that same day. They chose to proceed anyway.
"Regardless of the setbacks, we have to go on," said Thomas Thomas, ACEBA co-convenor, during the event. "Circular economy is doable. We need to not only do well and do good, but we also have to do it together to make it work."
Among the businesses featured at that webinar was Axel Integrated Farm of Talalora, Samar — a story that embodies the same resilience the organizers themselves demonstrated that day.
What Is Circular Economy, Really?
Dr. Rene Van Berkel, ACEBA co-convenor, put it plainly: "Circular economy is not just recycling. It is a systems perspective that deals with inflows of natural resources and outflows of waste. The goal is to bring both as close to zero as possible."
For most businesses, this sounds abstract. For Axel Farm, it is operational reality.
The farm starts with coconut sap — the lifeblood of the Waray coconut farmer. Instead of selling raw sap at thin margins, Axel Farm processes it into ten distinct products: vinegar, syrup, aminos, beverages, and more. Every part of the coconut is used. Husks become organic seedling medium. Peels are composted. Rainwater is harvested for processing. Nothing goes to waste.
The result, as documented in a 2024 EU SWITCH-Asia business case study: an 80% reduction in fertilizer costs, a 15% decrease in water consumption, and revenue growth of over 400% between 2021 and 2023.
From PhP 25,000 to PhP 270,000: Farmer Impact That Speaks for Itself
The ACEBA webinar highlighted Axel Farm alongside six other ASEAN businesses, including Husk Ventures from Cambodia and Pico Sands Hotel in the Philippines. But Axel's impact metric stood out.
Farmers who once earned the regional average of PhP 25,000 annually now earn up to PhP 270,000 per year through a 50-50 profit-sharing model. In August 2022, farm manager Jayson Pascual organized the Talalora Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (TALFAC), registered with the Cooperative Development Authority. The cooperative has created 50 new direct and indirect jobs in logistics, processing, and farm work.
This is not a pilot program or a grant-funded experiment. It is a working business model that has been running since 2021, validated by the European Union and recognized by the Department of Trade and Industry.
The Growing Market for Coconut Vinegar
The global coconut vinegar market, valued at USD 846 million in 2025, is projected to reach USD 1.5 billion by 2035, growing at a 5.9% CAGR. Some projections put the figure as high as USD 2.67 billion by 2035 at a 9.05% CAGR. Whatever the exact number, the direction is clear: the world is looking for natural, fermented alternatives to conventional vinegar.
Axel Farm's product lineup is already positioned to meet this demand. The sharp, clean Sukang Waray for traditional sawsawan. The sweet-tangy Cocestra (Coconut Balsamic) for salads and gourmet cooking. The spiced Sinamak for grilled meats and pulutan. The innovative Coconut Aminos — a soy sauce alternative low in sodium and naturally fermented. And the thirst-quenching Sapura coconut nectar beverage.
Why This Matters Beyond Samar
Jay Yuvallos, CCCI president, opened the webinar with a challenge: focus on two words — Impact and Influence. "Impact means to press closely, to fix firmly, and to drive into. Influence our tomorrow by the choices we make today."
Axel Farm's story was shared not as a charity case but as a business case. The SWITCH-Asia study concluded: "Sustainability pays off. The farm's success demonstrates that environmental responsibility and economic prosperity can go hand in hand even for farming communities in marginal areas."
The Philippines is the world's most vulnerable country to extreme weather, the third-largest contributor to plastic pollution globally, and faces up to 30% biodiversity loss. The challenges are systemic. But as the ACEBA webinar proved — even during an earthquake — the solutions are already emerging.
Explore Axel Farm Products
Every bottle from Axel Farm starts with the same commitment: pure coconut sap, traditional Waray methods, and fair partnership with Samar farmers. From the everyday staple Sukang Waray to the innovative Cocestra balsamic vinegar, each product carries the heritage of Eastern Visayas and the proof that circular economy is not just theory — it works.
Behind Every Bottle Is a Farmer. — Axel Integrated Farm, Talalora, Samar