International Cashew Research Conference – 2025
CALL FOR PARTICIPATION/EXHIBITION
Date
From Tuesday, September 23 to Thursday, September 25, 2025
Place
Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire)
Background and rationale
The global trade in raw cashew nuts more than doubled between 2000 and 2018, and Africa has become the world’s leading producer (>60%) of raw nuts. Globally, the cashew market is experiencing annual growth of 7 to 10%, driven by growing consumer demand and the resulting nutritional benefits. However, research in the cashew sector, an important lever for the sustainability, faces several challenges. In production, the genetic development of climate smart and pest resistant varieties with suitable soil amendment packages to increase yields to sustain production remains a priority. Further, optimizing processing to reduce losses, improve kernel quality and enhance the value of by-products (cashew shells and apples) is critical. The recovery of by-products, particularly for agri-food, cosmetic, and energy uses, remains underexploited. On the trade front, price instability on the international market and dependence on raw nut exports pose economic risks for producing countries. Strengthening local value chains and product certification are essential to ensure greater competitiveness. Finally, challenges related to traceability, fair trade, and international health standards require strategic innovations.
Meetings between specialists from different sector’s of the cashew value chain are a strategically useful activity for the sector. Such meetings not only allow for the sharing of knowledge, unknowns, and challenges, but also for pooling reflections on priority themes. With this in mind and with the support of its administrative, technical, and financial partners, the Consultative International Cashew Advisory Council (CICC) has initiated the organization of an International Cashew Research Conference (ICRC). The 2025 conference will take place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from September 23rd to 25th, 2025.
Theme
Development of sustainable production, processing and marketing systems to strengthen the resilience of the cashew sector: issues, achievements and prospects.
Sub-themes
- Sub-theme 1 – Crop improvement and multiplication Selection and genetic conservation
- Crop physiology and support techniques
- Crop protection and post-harvest management
- Agronomy (production system, sustainability and management of cashew nuts)
- Soil and plant nutrition
- Sub-theme 2 – Advances in biotechnology
- Tissue culture, micropropagation and other in vitro culture studies
- Marker technology
- Genomics
- Sub-theme 3 – Added value and processing technologies
- Transformation technologies
- Transformation economy
- Cashew nut by-products
- Marketing and socio-economic aspects
- Food safety and nutritional aspects
- Sub-theme 4 – Popularization and transfer of technology
- Information and technology delivery
- Outreach and communication
- Innovation and value chain system
- Training & capacity building
- Sub-theme 5 – Design and development of machines / Mechanization of the cashew industry
- Processing equipment: Nutcrackers/shellers, roasters, boilers, dryers, sorters, packaging.
- Production equipment: Mowers, combines, tractors and harrows.
- Sub-theme 6 – Cross-cutting issues
- Climate change
- Standards and quality
- Consumption
- Financing
Field visit
A field visit will take place at CITA and INP-HB in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast.
Objective
Contribute to strengthening the sharing and dissemination of the results of cashew research programs and projects with a view to facilitating their use in the areas of orchard modernization, processing of products and by-products and cashew marketing.
Registration and contribution
The conference is open to all stakeholders in the cashew value chain. Anyone interested in participating or exhibiting at CIRC 2025 is requested to register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQbn7ZN4Y0U2MOxOpsdFpGk3KuPmWGWEKAcdQ7XApk2MfnUA/viewform?usp=dialog
Costs of Participation or Exhibition
Download here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M3mWQwG1A_6CXjHy3RROOPu6WvDxXkUP/view?usp=sharing
Registration deadline
30th August, 2025
Contacts
For any information regarding the scientific and technical aspects of the presentations, please contact:
Doctor Paul KK Adu-Gyamfi: (+233) 245 39 46 97; adubee2001@yahoo.com
Professor Zoro Bi Irié A.: (+225) 07 39 02 31; banhiakalou@yahoo.fr
