BRIEFING DOCUMENT. Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Fruit Pulp Powder. Production Capacity and Sustainability in Southern Africa

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1 BRIEFING DOCUMENT Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Fruit Pulp Powder Production Capacity and Prepared by: PhytoTrade Africa Unit W215, Holywell Centre, 1 Phipp Street, London EC2A 4PS Postnet Suite 223, Private Bag XO6, Waterkloof 0145, Pretoria, South Africa

2 1. Summary The population of wild baobab across Southern Africa is estimated at 28 million trees. This equates to a potential sustainable annual yield of 673,000 tonnes of whole baobab fruit and 108,000 tonnes of baobab fruit pulp powder. Immediate production capacity from Afriplex/PhytoTrade Africa members is 150 tonnes of baobab fruit pulp powder in the next 12 months, increasing to 500+ tonnes in years two and three. Customers sourcing baobab fruit pulp from Afriplex/PhytoTrade Africa members will have access to a large and reliable supply base and be assured of rigorous quality control. PhytoTrade Africa members adhere to best practice standards for baobab harvest and production, including effective resource management and regeneration. Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is not listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List. Wild-harvested baobab fruit is naturally organic, since the trees have not been treated with any fertilisers or pesticides. EcoCert organic certification of Afriplex/PhytoTrade Africa s key producer is expected imminently. Wild baobab in Southern Africa is abundant and long lived and faces no significant sustainability issues in the short to medium term even with a rapid increase in global demand. Baobab supply in some other areas of Africa, however, faces more pressing sustainability challenges. In the current absence of internationally-recognised Fairtrade standards for baobab, PhytoTrade Africa implements its own rigorous fair trade and sustainability charter. PhytoTrade Africa s mission is to develop long term sustainable trade that delivers on-going economic benefit to poor rural communities. The organisation has impeccable environmental and ethical credentials. 2

3 2. Baobab Occurrence in Southern Africa The Southern African indigenous baobab population covers a land area of approximately 93,000 km 2 (over 9m hectares) in eight countries. PhytoTrade Africa (The Southern African Natural Products Trade Association) currently represents baobab producers in all but one of these countries. The largest areas of baobab population are in Mozambique, South Africa, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Baobab trees are found in mature woodlands and savannah areas, thriving in areas up to 1500m above sea level and with an annual rainfall of between 300mm and 500mm. The map above illustrates the densest areas of the wild baobab population in Southern Africa. Table 1. Estimated occurrence of wild baobab in Southern Africa Country Total land area of country (km 2 ) Areas of baobab occurrence Estimated baobab coverage as % of country s total land area Estimated land area with baobab population (km 2 ) Botswana 582,000 Hard country in northeast, 1 5,820 and north-west Malawi 118,484 Shire Valley, Nsanje 10 11,848 Mozambique 801,590 By Lake Malawi, Chupanga and Magude, Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces 5 40,080 Namibia 825,000 Northern Namibia 0.5 4,125 South Africa 1,233,404 Limpopo basin, northern Zoutpansberg Mountains, Transvaal 1 12,334 Zambia 752,615 Luangwa, Gwembe 1 7,526 Valley, Zambesi Valley Zimbabwe 390,580 Zambesi Valley, Save 3 11,717 Valley, Limpopo basin Total 4,703,673 93,450 3

4 3. Potential Production Capacity 3.1 Number of baobab trees in Southern Africa Estimates of the maximum biological production capacity must be based on an estimate of the total baobab population in Southern Africa. For the purposes of this briefing paper, we have made calculations based on a minimum density of one tree per hectare, medium density of three trees and a high density of six trees. This indicates that the likely minimum indigenous population of baobab in Southern Africa is just over nine million trees, while the maximum population could be as high as 56 million trees. PhytoTrade Africa believes that the medium density figure (based on three trees per hectare) is a reasonably conservative estimate and therefore an appropriate density on which to base estimates of total production capacity. This puts the population of baobab in Southern Africa at just over 28 million trees. Table 2. Baobab tree density by region Estimated trees at density per hectare Country Estimated area covered by baobab hectares Botswana 582, ,000 1,746,000 3,492,000 Malawi 1,184,800 1,184,800 3,554,400 7,108,800 Mozambique 4,008,000 4,008,000 12,024,000 24,048,000 Nambia 412, ,500 1,237,500 2,475,000 South Africa 1,233,400 1,233,400 3,700,200 7,400,400 Zambia 752, ,600 2,257,800 4,515,600 Zimbabwe 1,171,700 1,171,700 3,515,100 7,030,200 Totals 9,345,000 9,345,000 28,035,000 56,070, Potential sustainable yield of baobab fruit An average mature fruiting baobab produces around 200 kg of fruit per season, allowing for variations in site conditions and genotypes. In order to take account of annual fluctuations, we work on a lower average yield of 80kg of fruit per tree. In addition, not every tree produces fruit every year. An assessment conducted at four locations in Malawi indicates that approximately 40% of mature Baobab trees produce a significant quantity of fruit in any given year. We also need to assume that a maximum 70% of the crop from each tree is available for fruit pulp production. The remaining 30% may be unavailable due to use by the local population, consumption by animals, location inaccessibility or other reasons. 4

5 Taking all these factors into account, a realistic estimate of yield is 24kg of fruit per tree. PhytoTrade Africa therefore estimates the total potential sustainable yield of whole baobab fruit for commercial use in Southern Africa is between 224,000 tonnes and 1,350,000 tonnes. Working on our recommended estimated density of three baobab trees per hectare, it is reasonable to assume a potential yield of whole fruit of just over 670,000 tonnes per year. Table 3. Potential sustainable baobab fruit yield by region, incorporating alternative use margins and tree density. Country Estimated yields at tree densities per hectare (Tonnes) Botswana 13,968 41,904 83,808 Malawi 28,435 85, ,611 Mozambique 96, , ,152 Nambia 9,900 29,700 59,400 South Africa 29,602 88, ,610 Zambia 18,062 54, ,374 Zimbabwe 28,121 84, ,725 Totals 224, ,840 1,345, Potential sustainable yield of baobab fruit pulp powder Phytotrade Africa s own studies show the average weight of a baobab fruit is 200g and the average quantity of fruit pulp is 35g per fruit. Based on this, Southern Africa has the potential to produce between 36,000 and 215,000 tonnes of baobab fruit pulp powder per year. Working on a density of three baobab trees per hectare, PhytoTrade Africa estimates the potential sustainable yield to be 108,000 tonnes. Table 4. Baobab fruit pulp yield by region, incorporating tree density. Country Estimated yields at tree densities per hectare (Tonnes) Botswana 2,232 6,697 13,394 Malawi 4,544 13,633 27,267 Mozambique 15,373 46,119 92,239 Nambia 1,582 4,747 9,493 South Africa 4,731 14,193 28,385 Zambia 2,887 8,660 17,320 Zimbabwe 4,494 13,483 26,965 Totals 35, , ,063 5

6 4. Current Production Capacity PhytoTrade Africa represents producers in the seven Southern African countries featured in the tables above. Currently our key producer is based in Malawi, although we have at least one other producer in each of the other countries ready to step up production rapidly as market demand grows. Our immediate production capacity is 150 tonnes of baobab fruit pulp powder in the next 12 months, increasing to 500+ tonnes in years two and three. As the trade association of the natural products industry in Southern Africa, PhytoTrade Africa is able to develop a large and reliable supply base of baobab fruit pulp for customers, implement rigorous quality control and facilitate required certifications. Eventual potential production levels, as outlined in this document, could reach over 100,000 tonnes per year from Southern Africa. In addition, many producers in Central, East and West Africa (regions we have not so far represented) are eager to join PhytoTrade Africa and supply baobab fruit pulp powder to global markets through us. This could increase our potential production capacity significantly. 5. Baobab Production: Best Practice PhytoTrade Africa s key producer of baobab fruit pulp powder is TreeCrops of Malawi. TreeCrops has for many years set the standard for best practice in baobab harvest and fruit pulp production in Southern Africa. The company manages its baobab resources tightly, mapping and recording producing trees, documenting their ages and other relevant factors. This enables TreeCrops to provide accurate forecasts of production levels from year to year and to ensure harvests are conducted sustainably. TreeCrops is implementing a strategy to systematically increase the baobab resource base. TreeCrops also ensures that fruit harvest does not adversely impact regeneration of the species. It works in partnership with local communities to establish, nurture and protect new baobab woodlands. In doing so, it strives to preserve the genetic width of the species (ie. propagating from a wide variety of specimens not just the most productive) to ensure that the species retains the ability to adapt to environmental changes. As global market demand for baobab fruit pulp powder increases, PhytoTrade Africa will work with its members to ensure that all its producers adhere to the best practice standards already set by TreeCrops. 6. Conservation Status Adansonia digitata L. is not listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List. 6

7 7. Organics Baobab fruit powder from wild-harvested fruit is naturally organic, since the wild trees have not been treated with any fertilisers or pesticides. Our key producer, TreeCrops in Malawi, has recently been assessed for certified organic status by EcoCert and confirmation of its successful certification is expected soon. PhytoTrade Africa will facilitate the organic certification of further baobab producers in Southern Africa in line with market demand. 8. Baobab & Sustainability The production of baobab fruit pulp powder uses only the fruit; the trees themselves are undamaged. Trees begin to fruit at the age of around 30 and continue to do so for most of their lives which can be 1000 years or more. Due to the abundance of indigenous wild baobab in Southern Africa and the long lived nature of the species, PhytoTrade Africa believes that baobab in the region we represent faces no significant sustainability issues in the short to medium term even with a rapid and substantial increase in global demand. (Baobab supply in some other areas of Africa, however, faces more pressing sustainability challenges). Although we see no immediate sustainability issues, PhytoTrade Africa s producers, as outlined above, already adhere to best practice standards that include ongoing monitoring and regeneration of wild baobab populations. PhytoTrade Africa and its producers know through experience that when a commercial value is attached to indigenous plant species and appropriate education is provided, rural communities in Africa are incentivised to protect these species for the long term. 9. PhytoTrade Africa s Sustainability & Fair Trade Credentials As the trade association representing the natural products industry in Southern Africa, PhytoTrade Africa s mission is to develop long term sustainable trade that delivers on-going economic benefit to poor rural communities. Environmental sustainability and fair trade are core to our operation. Internationally-recognised Fairtrade certification standards have not yet been developed for most natural products from Southern Africa (including baobab). In the absence of these, PhytoTrade Africa has developed its own Charter to ensure that its producers operate in an environmentally sustainable and ethical way. 7

8 The fair trade element of the Charter is based on the criteria of the International Federation for Alternative Trade and is designed to ensure fair prices, long term trading relationships and protection of human rights. PhytoTrade Africa ensures compliance with the terms of the charter through review visits to producers undertaken at least twice a year. In addition, PhytoTrade Africa is: A founding member of The Union for Ethical Biotrade, a global group of companies committed to the sustainable use of biodiversity. A member of The International Fair Trade Association (IFAT) and of The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). A partner to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in the international BioTrade Facilitation Programme, a programme that supports the development of products produced without harming biodiversity. A partner to the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in Natural Futures, a programme to develop Southern Africa s natural products industry for the benefit of both rural poor people and the environment. A partner to People & Plants International, a global sustainability initiative supported by WWF. Picture: Baobab woodlands in Malawi 8