First Meeting of Global Cashew Task Force Steering Committee Held at ACA Conference

Global Cashew Task Force Steering Committee members in Banjul, The Gambia

On 22 September, representatives of all of the world’s major cashew players met for the first steering committee meeting of the Global Cashew Task Force (GCTF) alongside the 6^th ACA Annual Conference in Banjul, The Gambia. The 10 member steering committee includes ACA along with the cashew associations of Australia, Brazil, India and Vietnam, and large buyers/processors Intersnack, Kraft Foods, Olam, Rajkumar, and Richard Franco Agency. The GCTF was officially formed in May at the International Nut Council (INC)’s annual convention to realize common goals across the global cashew industry.

Chaired by Pino Calcagni of INC, the meeting focused on discussion of the primary tasks and responsibilities of the task force. One of the main areas of the task force’s work will be the promotion of the health benefits of cashew, which will help to increase worldwide demand. The global harmonization of cashew food safety and quality standards will also be a key part of the agenda. The GCTF will work closely with the UN FAO on shared interests in these areas.

The Global Cashew Task Force signals increased cooperation across the world cashew industry. The next meeting of the steering committee will take place in Orlando, Florida in January 2012 in conjunction with the Peanut and Tree Nut Processors’ Association conference.