ACA Becomes Founding Member of Global Cashew Council at World Nut Congress

From 18-20 May, major international players in the fruit and nut industries gathered in Singapore at the INC’s XXXI World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress. Cashew associations of the major cashew origins (Brazil, India, Vietnam, Indonesia and ACA) and major international cashew processors and buyers, all members of the Global Cashew Taskforce, decided to solidify their international cooperation in the form of a permanent body.

As a result of discussions emphasizing the need for an official long term partnership, the Global Cashew Council emerged. This new body aims to promote cashew consumption worldwide, while working to harmonize standards and facilitate the exchange of information between the major players. The group also made plans to conduct research on the nutritional value of cashews by conducting clinical analysis and trials with cashews from all major origins. One of the Global Cashew Council’s central objectives is to emphasize the health benefits of cashew kernels, which could have trickle-down effects on both demand and incomes in the cashew industry.

The last meeting of the Global Cashew Taskforce occurred at the 6^th ACA Annual Conference in Banjul in September 2011.  ACA’s participation in the Council indicates Africa’s emergence as an important cashew producing region.

Arie Endendijk, Purchasing Director of Intersnack, Europe’s largest snack manufacturer and Advisory Board member of the African Cashew Alliance, moderated the cashew roundtable at the Congress, which is the world’s largest nut event and had more than 950 participants. He presented the case for investing in the African cashew industry, showcasing production and processing trends in Africa and highlighting the enormous potential presented by the emerging industry in Africa. Mr. Endendijk also promoted the African Cashew Initiative as an innovative public-private partnership to grow the cashew industry and noted its contribution to improving farmer livelihoods in Africa.