International Cashew Research Conference: A Giant Step Towards Cashew Sector Resilience
Palm Club Hotel, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire – September 23-25, 2025
The Consultative International Cashew Council (CICC) successfully concluded its 2nd International Cashew Research Conference (ICRC), a major event that brought together nearly 120 researchers, experts, policymakers, and stakeholders in the cashew value chain from 13 different countries. Under the central theme “Developing Sustainable Production, Processing, and Marketing Systems to Strengthen the Resilience of the Cashew Sector: Challenges, Achievements, and Prospects,” this event provided an essential platform for sharing the latest scientific advances and defining concrete strategies for the future of the sector.
Over two intense days, participants attended plenary sessions, paper presentations, and scientific posters. Discussions focused on critical challenges, including climate change adaptation, genetic improvement of cashew varieties, optimization of local processing technologies, and strengthening extension systems to effectively transfer innovations to producers.
Highlights of the Conference included:
- Presentation of new approaches for disease and pest control, ensuring better orchard health;
- In-depth discussions on the importance of local processing for job creation, particularly for women and youth;
- Recommendations for harmonizing quality standards within CICC member countries, essential for improving access to international markets;
- Exploration of the untapped potential of cashew by-products (apple, shell, etc.) to diversify income and minimize losses;
- Sharing over 15 years of experience from brave women in the cashew sector;
- A practical visit to the Yamoussoukro Cashew Innovation and Technology Center.
Concrete Results and Commitments
The Conference highlighted the crucial role of research and development (R&D) as a pillar of the sustainability of the cashew sector. A strong consensus emerged on the need to invest more in collaborative research and in building the technical capacity of African researchers.
The Executive Secretary of the CICC, Mr. André Mahoutin Tandjékpon, emphasized in his closing speech:
“This is an opportunity for me to launch a plea for greater efforts by our countries to sustainably support research institutions, researchers, and innovators in their noble missions as pioneers in knowledge production.” Likewise, research institutions and researchers must also strengthen their attractiveness to private investors and governments by involving them in all of their initiatives, which must holistically consider all segments of the various value chains being promoted.”
The CICC, for more cashew added value in associated countries.
