Introducing world’s first Rainforest Alliance certified cashew.
We are pleased to announce that over the last year, ETG | Beyond Beans has collaborated closely with Rainforest Alliance (RFA), AATIF, & ProCashew (USDA), and farmer groups to develop and introduce the world’s first Rainforest Alliance certified cashew.
In November 2023, smallholder farmer groups in Côte d’Ivoire and Benin achieved Rainforest Alliance certification by successfully incorporating good agricultural practices, such as agroforestry, soil conservation techniques, and a zero-deforestation system. Additional farmers in Mozambique will be added soon.
Why is this so special?
While coffee and cocoa markets have already embraced sustainability standards to promote improved agricultural practices, the cashew market still lags behind. Until today, no widely-recognised certification standards have advocated for more favourable production of this crop, even though cashew farmers in Africa are situated in the driest and poorest regions, with incomes of less than 3 USD per day, lower than those in most cocoa and coffee-producing areas.
In these arid regions, cashew is one of the few cash crops suitable for cultivation, offering a potential source of substantial income for households. Beyond its economic impact, planting cashew trees holds promise from an environmental perspective, with the potential to combat desertification, address micro-climate change, and contribute to soil regeneration.
With Rainforest Alliance and other partners, ETG | Beyond Beans is taking a bold step by introducing a sustainable alternative to consumer markets to improve the livelihoods of rural farmers.
A New Market
In close collaboration with European private label manufacturers and the Sustainable Nut Initiative (SNI), ETG | Beyond Beans has initiated the promotion of RFA-certified cashew in the retail and consumer markets. Through the establishment of dedicated off-take agreements, we are pursuing sustained access to premium markets for our cashew farmers. This not only ensures ongoing agri-technical support, improved yields, and increased incomes but also secures better pricing.
In the coming months, we will provide updates on the latest developments and our ongoing efforts in this emerging market.
We extend special thanks to our partners, farmers, and dedicated colleagues whose collective efforts made this reaching the milestone possible.