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.
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For too long, the world overlooked the problem, an outdated supply chain in need of change.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.
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.
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.
Monchy Trivium Foundation is changing that. With their bicycle program, they collect donated bikes in The Netherlands, 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. Monchy 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.
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.
A sustainable cashew chain is built on partnerships. Together with local and international organizations, we bring knowledge, tools, and opportunities to Tanzania.
Many cashew trees in the country are old and less productive. With TARI (Tanzanian Agricultural Research Institute) we run training plots, provide technical guidance, and supply new seedlings. Farmers can see the results directly and renew their farms with stronger trees.
With SNV (Netherlands Development Organisation), farmers also learn skills that go beyond agriculture. Leadership, financial planning, and gender equality help them grow their farms, strengthen their communities, and build confidence for the future.
Through the RVO program, Monchy Food Company works with the Cashew Board to open doors for young farmers. They gain access to land, mentoring, and practical guidance. Cashew farming becomes a real career path for the next generation.
By working together with these partners, we are not only producing cashews. We are creating better harvests, stronger communities, and a sustainable future for everyone.
Seedling Renewal
Many farms still depend on old, unproductive trees. We distribute seedlings, helping farmers replace outdated trees with stronger, higher-yielding varieties. This leads to better nut quality and more stable income.
Learning by doing
Farmers receive hands-on training in pruning, soil management, crop diversification, biochar application, and other sustainable practices. Together with TARI we established practical learning plots, where farmers are trained and they see results before applying them on their own farms.
Youth Program
To support the next generation of cashew growers, young people are receiving training and mentorship. We are supporting building a career in agriculture cashew farming by facilitating access to their own land. This creates new career opportunities while keeping agriculture attractive for youth.
Digital Monitoring with FarmLink
Through FarmLink, farmers can register their plots and cashew trees, track the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and receive reports and technical support. This data brings transparency, traceability, and continuous improvement.
ashews 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. This approach not only helps reduce waste but also creates additional income for farmers by utilizing the cashew apple.
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 have any questions or would like to know more, don’t hesitate to reach out by email – we are happy to hear from you.
