Mighty Earth is an environmental advocacy organization that investigates and campaigns against destructive agricultural practices. This text focuses specifically on the cashew industry in Côte d'Ivoire, documenting how cashew cultivation drives deforestation, biodiversity loss, and socio-economic problems.
The organization details how native dry forests are being cleared for cashew plantations, threatening protected areas like Comoé National Park and endangered species including the Western Chimpanzee. The report also examines pesticide pollution, food insecurity as farmers shift from traditional crops to cashew monoculture, and hazardous working conditions for processors who suffer caustic burns during manual de-shelling.
Mighty Earth provides recommendations for creating a sustainable cashew industry, including implementing traceability systems, halting expansion into native ecosystems, diversifying farmer incomes, restoring forests, funding sustainable farming research, and banning imports linked to deforestation.
The organization aims to raise awareness about these environmental and social impacts.