A Cashew Without Detours

Processing cashews where they grow avoids unnecessary travel across continents. It lowers transport emissions, creates local jobs, and allows Amama Farms to oversee working conditions, making the process more sustainable and fair for everyone.

70% of Colombia’s deforestation happens in the Amazon. (Icono Árbol cortado) Coca plantations in Putumayo grew from 26,000 hectares in 2018 to 48,000 in 2022. (Icono Hoja de coca) The Amazon is ho (1)

 

 

 

 

Reshaping the Cashew Supply Chain for People and Planet

For decades, the cashew industry has followed an illogical route. Cashews grown in Africa have been shipped thousands of kilometers away to be processed in Asia, only to be sent back to Europe for consumption. A journey of 11,000 unnecessary kilometers, increases CO₂ emissions, and takes jobs away from local communities.

For too long, the world overlooked the problem—an outdated supply chain in need of change. So we decided to do things differently.

Breaking the Chain

The question was simple: Why not process cashews where they grow?

By keeping the entire process in the country of origin, we are creating a shorter, more transparent supply chain—one that respects the farmers, values the land, and delivers a better product to you.

This isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about preserving the quality of each cashew instead of shipping it halfway across the world before it reaches your hands. And it’s about reversing decades of unnecessary waste and pollution.

The solution was always there. Someone just needed to take the first step.

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“A shorter journey means a greener impact”







 
 

Working Together for a Better Future

Sustainability isn’t just about the environment—it’s about working together to make changes. A fair supply chain starts with strong partnerships, shared knowledge, and sustainable practices.

Together with SNV (Netherlands Development Organisation), we help young farmers by teaching them important skills like leadership, financial management, and gender equality. Giving them the tools to grow their businesses and build a better future.

With TARI (Tanzanian Agricultural Research Institute) , we support farmers through technical training, demonstration plots, and providing seedlings. Helping them improve yields while protecting their land.

By working together with these respected organizations, we are not just producing cashews—we are creating better opportunities, stronger livelihoods, and a more sustainable future for everyone.

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Meeting with the regional commissioner
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With TARI, talking about new trees and other projects.
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Talking with the cashew board

Helping Workers Save Time, Every Day

In many rural areas in Tanzania, travelling is not easy. Many people, especially women, have to walk long distances to reach work, markets and schools. This takes time and energy, making daily life harder.

Trivium Foundation is changing that. With their bicycle program, they collect donated bikes in The Netherlads, repair them, paint them and give them to workers.

90% of people receiving these bikes are women. With a bike, they can get to work faster, travel safely, and have more time for their families. Trivium Foundation also plans to set up a small workshop to repair the bikes in-house and keep them in good condition.

Every bike is more than transportation. It’s a chance for a better future.

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Cashew Trees: The Root of Sustainability.

Healthy trees are the foundation of a strong cashew industry. Through innovative programs, new generations of farmers also gain the opportunity to grow their own cashew farms.

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Did you know?

  • Cashew trees can live for more than 100 years.
  • They grow well in dry, sandy soils and need very little water.
  • They are the only nut that grow outside the fruit.
  • Their deep roots prevent soil erosion, helping to keep the land healthy.
  • Cashew trees can grow up to 14 meters tall.
  • One tree can produce up to 50 kg of cashew nuts per year.

Cashew Tree Nurseries

Together with TARI (Tanzanian Agricultural Research Institute), cashew farmers receive better seedlings to improve their yields and secure their future.

Many farms have old, unproductive trees, leading to lower harvests and financial difficulties. To address this, TARI distributes seedlings, allowing farmers to replace outdated trees with stronger, more productive ones. This results in better nut quality and a more stable income.

As part of the RVO program, Mochy Food Company offers young farmers the opportunity to start new cashew farms. TARI manages farm operations, while the Cashew Board assigns land to support the next generation of cashew growers.

Investing in nurseries means stronger trees, better harvests, and a sustainable future for cashew farming.

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Fresh Food, Stronger Teams: The Amama Farms Workers’ Garden

Finding fresh food is difficult, as there are no supermarkets or markets nearby in that region of Tanzania. At Amama Farms, part of the factory land has become a vegetable garden, cared for by the workers.

The garden grows spinach, okra, kale, African eggplant, mangoes, bananas, and pineapples. Workers share the harvest, adding fresh vegetables to their meals at least twice a week. As the garden expands, this will increase to four days a week, making healthy food more available.

More than just fresh veggies, the garden reflects teamwork, perseverance, and a shared goal. It benefits both body and community, creating a healthier, stronger workforce.

A Future Without Waste

 

Cashews don’t grow on their own—they come attached to a cashew apple, a fruit that is often discarded. 

In collaboration with Wageningen University & Research (WUR), we are finding new ways to use every part of the harvest, ensuring nothing goes to waste.

We are working towards a future where cashews are not only more sustainable but more resourceful—where every part of the process adds value, not waste. The journey of a cashew should be as efficient, ethical, and clean as the food itself.

 

If you want to learn more about the project.

 

Send us an email

Want to talk?
Let’s get in touch!

rwk@rhumveld.com Send us a message

+31 (0)10 233 09 00 Give us a call

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