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

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