Author: Manuelito R. Putong

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A Growing Industry for Growing Wealth: Cultivating Prosperity in Emerging Sectors

The phrase “A Growing Industry for Growing Wealth” encapsulates a powerful economic principle: that the key to sustained financial growth lies in aligning with industries that are themselves on an upward trajectory. In today’s rapidly evolving global economy, emerging industries — particularly those rooted in sustainability, innovation, and natural resource stewardship — offer vast potential for wealth creation.

1. Aligning with Growth: Wealth from Emerging Markets

Industries in their growth phase are characterized by expanding demand, innovation, and increasing investment. They often enjoy government incentives, attract investor attention, and offer a favorable environment for entrepreneurship. Examples include:

  • Sustainable agriculture & agroforestry
  • Essential oils & natural cosmetics
  • Biotech & organogenesis
  • Green construction & eco-tourism

Getting involved early in such sectors can result in significant returns, as early adopters often benefit from:

  • First-mover advantages
  • Market influence
  • Brand loyalty establishment
  • Lower competition

2. Case in Point: The Rise of the Perfumery Crop Industry

Take the example of the Agarwood and essential oil industry — once considered niche, now booming due to increased demand for natural, luxury products in perfumery, wellness, and religious practices. The global market for agarwood products is projected to reach billions in the next decade.

By investing in the upstream (cultivation, organogenesis, inoculation) and downstream (extraction, branding, distribution) aspects of this value chain, individuals and companies are tapping into an expanding market — creating not just personal wealth, but also jobs, exports, and rural development.

3. Agriculture Reimagined: Profit with Purpose

Modern agribusiness is no longer just about crops and yields. It’s about sustainable systems that generate long-term returns while restoring ecosystems. Agroforestry plantations, organic fertilizers, and green real estate developments are redefining how land can generate wealth. These are growing industries rooted in:

  • Environmental consciousness
  • Health and wellness trends
  • Local resource utilization
  • Government support for green initiatives

4. Inclusive Growth: Empowering Farmers and Entrepreneurs

A truly “growing” industry also uplifts those at the grassroots. When structured inclusively (e.g., through cooperatives, contract farming, or community estates), wealth creation is not limited to big investors — it becomes a shared journey. This not only improves livelihoods but also strengthens the foundation of the industry itself.

5. Future-Proofing Wealth Creation

In uncertain global markets, industries that focus on regeneration — of health, soil, forests, and culture — are more resilient. They’re aligned with the world’s future needs, making them safer bets for long-term wealth creation.

In Summary

“A Growing Industry for Growing Wealth” is both a philosophy and a strategy. It’s about identifying sectors that are rising — particularly those rooted in sustainability, innovation, and natural abundance — and using them as platforms for inclusive, long-term economic empowerment. Whether you’re an investor, a farmer, an entrepreneur, or a policymaker, aligning with these growing industries means planting the seeds not just for wealth, but for a more regenerative future.

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Collab between BarIno™  and Alysons Chemical

BarIno™ Partners with Alysons’ Chemical Enterprises, Inc. to Advance Scientific Inoculant Solutions for the Philippine Agarwood Industry

Cavite, Philippines — BarIno™, a pioneering biotech brand specializing in advanced agarwood resin induction technologies, today announced a strategic collaboration with Alysons’ Chemical Enterprises, Inc. , one of the country’s leading suppliers of high-grade industrial and agricultural chemicals. The partnership aims to revolutionize the agarwood cultivation sector by ensuring consistent access to scientifically formulated inoculants using high-purity inputs like Ferric Chloride (FeCl₃) and Sodium Chloride (NaCl).

This collaboration supports the continued rollout of BarIno™ ResinRush™, an abiotic inoculant blend designed to stimulate resin formation in Aquilaria malaccensis. Combining the catalytic power of FeCl₃ with osmotic stress via NaCl, ResinRush™ accelerates and standardizes agarwood production in plantation settings.

“Our partnership with Alysons Chemicals elevates the quality and scalability of BarIno™ technologies. It guarantees our growers a reliable supply of critical components and strengthens our shared mission to industrialize agarwood cultivation through safe, science-driven methods,” said Manuelito Laurenti E. Putong, President, Aetherial Natural Oils Corp. (ANOC), developer of BarIno™.

Under this collaboration:

  • Alysons Chemical will provide laboratory-grade chemical inputs and formulation support for BarIno™ inoculants.
  • Both parties will co-develop standard operating protocols (SOPs) for inoculant application across diverse farm conditions.
  • Training programs for AGAP member-growers and Putz Agarwood Farm Corp. (PAFC) clients will be launched to promote proper usage and maximize resin yield.

“We are honored to collaborate with BarIno™ to support sustainable innovation in the agarwood sector,” said Arsenio Isidro Yap, President, Alysons Chemical Enterprises, Inc. “Our expertise in chemical sourcing and quality assurance is the perfect complement to BarIno’s groundbreaking biological formulations.”

This partnership is expected to accelerate the development of eco-compatible agarwood plantations across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, aligning with DENR standards and the growing international demand for sustainably sourced resinous wood and essential oils.

About BarIno™
BarIno™ is a proprietary brand developed by Aetherial Natural Oils Corp. (ANOC), focused on delivering high-performance biological and abiotic inoculants for use in Agarwood and other high-value tree crops. Its flagship products include ResinRush™ and FusaTrinity™, used by leading growers across the Philippines.

About Alysons’ Chemical Enterprises, Inc. 
Established in 1977, Alysons Chemical Enterprises, Inc. is a trusted nationwide distributor of industrial, agricultural, and laboratory-grade che

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Bridging Innovation and Compliance – Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) Meeting

May 14, 2025 Meeting with Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) Chief Mr. Anson M. Tagtag (right) and Wildlife Regulation Section Chief Ms. Nermalie M. Lita (2nd from left).

Background

In recent years, the global agarwood industry has witnessed a shift toward sustainable plantation-based production, particularly in Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, one pioneering force behind this transformation is Putz Agarwood Farm Corporation (PAFC), a licensed agarwood plantation developer headquartered in Cavite with a 20-hectare operation in Hamtic, Antique.

PAFC cultivates Aquilaria malaccensis, a tree species listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). As such, its activities are strictly regulated by the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to ensure that harvesting and international trade do not threaten the survival of the species.

Challenge

While PAFC had successfully secured a Wildlife Culture Permit (WCuP R-6-2022-001) and established a thriving plantation, it was preparing to enter the international market—specifically the lucrative Middle Eastern agarwood trade. This brought the company face-to-face with the complex process of CITES export compliance, including documentation, scientific validation, and legal acquisition verification.

To move forward, PAFC needed to:

  • Prove the legal origin of its Aquilaria planting stock
  • Demonstrate the sustainability of its resin induction protocols
  • Navigate the steps required for CITES Export Permit issuance, including Non-Detriment Findings (NDF) and Legal Acquisition Findings (LAF)

The Engagement

In early 2025, a formal consultation was held between CITES/BMB officials and PAFC’s leadership at the BMB Central Office in Quezon City. Representing PAFC were Mr. Norberto Joyel (President) and Mr. Manuelito R. Putong (Technical Consultant)—the latter also serving as President of the Agarwood Growers Association of the Philippines (AGAP).

The discussion focused on:

  • Traceability of planting materials: PAFC showcased its digital recordkeeping and geo-tagged inventory of Aquilaria trees, all propagated from registered mother trees.
  • Scientific resin induction: PAFC detailed its use of advanced BarIno™ inoculants, such as ResinRush™ and FusaTrinity™ . These formulations induce resin production through controlled stress mechanisms without damaging tree vitality.
  • Trade intentions: PAFC declared its intent to export agarwood chips, confirming its understanding of the need for CITES documentation, third-party inspection, and sustainability reporting.

The Outcome

BMB commended PAFC’s efforts to modernize and legalize agarwood production, particularly its alignment with science-based practices and national conservation goals. CITES representatives committed to supporting PAFC through:

  • On-site verification of resin-harvested trees prior to export
  • Technical guidance for preparing Non-Detriment Findings and LAF submissions
  • Coordination with DENR Region VI to streamline documentation and regulatory reviews

PAFC, in turn, pledged to submit its inoculation SOPs, sustainability monitoring report, and plantation audit data to the BMB’s Agarwood Registry.

Impact

This successful consultation solidified PAFC’s reputation as a model plantation developer—combining business acumen, environmental stewardship, and regulatory transparency. It also strengthened the collaboration between government regulators and private sector innovators in establishing a viable, legal agarwood export pathway for the Philippines.

Key Takeaways

  • ✅ Legal compliance and scientific validation are essential for CITES-listed species trade.
  • ✅ Traceability, documentation, and transparency are non-negotiables for export clearance.
  • ✅ Partnerships with regulators, researchers, and cooperatives are critical for scaling impact.
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Inoculation Technology from DLSU Begins Implementation

Tanza, Cavite – March 01, 2025 — Today marks a pivotal moment for the Philippine agarwood industry as Aetherial Natural Oils Corp (ANOC), in partnership with De La Salle University (DLSU), begins the field implementation of breakthrough inoculation technology for Aquilaria malaccensis trees.

This initiative signifies the country’s first coordinated deployment of university-developed resin induction protocols, aimed at increasing the efficiency and sustainability of agarwood production. The inoculation process officially commenced on select trees at ANOC’s plantation site in Tanza, Cavite, using a formulation refined by DLSU’s research team after years of laboratory and field validation.

“This is a defining step not just for our company, but for the entire industry,” said Mr. Manuelito R. Putong, Technical Consultant at ANOC and President of the Agarwood Growers Association of the Philippines (AGAP). “We are translating science into sustainable economic impact.”

The advanced inoculant technology—designed to safely stimulate resin formation in cultivated Aquilaria trees—positions the Philippines as a growing leader in ethical, plantation-based agarwood production. It is expected to shorten resin formation timelines, minimize tree damage, and produce high-value agarwood chips and oil for export and perfumery applications.

Aetherial Natural Oils Corp, a vertically integrated player in the Philippine fragrance sector, will continue to work closely with DLSU, AGAP, and regulatory bodies such as DENR-BMB and CITES to ensure full compliance and scientific integrity.

This milestone serves as a model of public-private-academic collaboration, with the shared goal of building a globally competitive, environmentally responsible agarwood value chain in the Philippines.

Photo courtesy of Laurenti E. Putong.

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AGAP-DLSU MOU has been officially signed.

The Agarwood Growers Association of the Philippines Incorporated (AGAP) and De La Salle University (DLSU) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking a major milestone for the agarwood industry in the Philippines. This strategic partnership sets the stage for groundbreaking research, innovation, and sustainable development, strengthening our commitment to advancing agarwood production through science and technology. A new chapter begins—exciting times ahead!