Acotanc: Gum Arabic--A Tree Crop for Arid Lands

Gum Arabic--A Tree Crop for Arid Lands



Author:

Paul Vantomme

E-mail: [email protected]

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Organization: UN Food and Agriculture Organization
Forest Product Division
Wood and Non-wood Products Utilization Branch
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome, Italy
Fax: +39-06-570-55618
E-mail: [email protected]
Home Page: http://www.fao.org/forestry/FOP/FOPW/NWFP/nwfp-e.stm

Abstract
Gum Arabic is an important ingredient used in the food industry throughout the world. Production of the raw materials is primarily done in arid lands across Africa.

GUM ARABIC

  • Water-soluble gum mainly used in food industry
  • From trees of the genus Acacia
    • A. senegal and A. seyal
  • Almost all is of African origin (Sudan)
  • international trade of 40.000 tonnes/year
    • 4% of world hydrocolloids market (starch)
    • unit value of US$ 2 -5/kg

Non-Wood Forest Products: Issues

  • Dynamics of NWFP
    • All "crops" once were "NWFP"
  • Domestication of NWFP and related issues
    • technical, economical, social, environmental
  • NWFP production/ interaction with agricultural crop/ grazing systems
    • NWFP as a by-/co-product of agricultural crops/agroforestry

Main characteristics of NWFP

  • Wild
  • Local use
  • Products for basic needs
  • Informal sector

Characteristics of Cultivated Production

  • Cultivated
  • International use
  • Luxury goods
  • Formal sector
The gum is exuded from trunks, branches and twigs

Constraints

  • Lack of awareness (except in Sudan)
  • Lack of institutional and policy support
  • Lack of information on resource availability
  • Irregular supply and product quality
  • Use of product unknown outside the region of origin
  • Risk of 'boom and burst cycle'
Primary cleaning and grading of gum arabic at the Gum Arabic Co. depot, El Obeid, Sudan (Photo: J.J.W. Copper)
Final inspection of mechanically cleaned gum arabic at the Gum Arabic Co. depot, El Obeid, Sudan (Photo: J.J.W. Copper)

Opportunities

  • Products of "rural poor" (+ rural employment)
  • Local knowledge
  • Less-destructive exploitation
  • Low capital investment and technology
  • Low volume (high value) products
  • Market niches:
    • "Bio-products"--Organic gum (Chad)
    • Fair trade