Mighty Earth is an environmental advocacy organization focused on exposing and addressing the negative impacts of cashew cultivation in Côte d'Ivoire. The organization highlights how the rapid expansion of cashew farming over the past 40 years has led to significant deforestation, with approximately 1.6 million hectares now dedicated to cashew plantations—an area nearly the size of Hawaii.
This agricultural expansion has resulted in the loss of up to 25% of native dry forests in some regions within four years, threatening unique ecosystems and protected areas like the UNESCO World Heritage site Comoé National Park, which is home to critically endangered species such as the Western Chimpanzee.
Mighty Earth also documents the socio-economic consequences, including a 'boom to bust' cycle that leaves farmers vulnerable to market fluctuations and food insecurity, as well as hazardous working conditions for laborers, particularly women, who suffer caustic burns during the nut-processing stage.
The organization advocates for sustainable practices, including traceability systems, halting expansion into native ecosystems, crop diversification, forest restoration, and regulatory bans on cashews linked to deforestation in major consumer markets like the US and EU.