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 of land now dedicated to cashew plantations, an area nearly the size of Hawaii.
This agricultural shift 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 details the environmental consequences, including biodiversity loss and pesticide pollution from agrochemicals that seep into soils and groundwater, harming wildlife. The organization also addresses socio-economic issues, noting that while cashew farming initially boosted rural incomes, it has created an oversupply that depresses prices, leading to economic instability and food insecurity for farmers who have shifted from traditional food crops.
Additionally, the report highlights hazardous working conditions, particularly for women involved in manual de-shelling, who risk caustic burns from the oil released during roasting. Mighty Earth provides recommendations for creating a sustainable cashew industry, such as implementing traceability systems, halting expansion into native ecosystems, supporting crop diversification, funding research into sustainable farming, and advocating for bans on cashews linked to deforestation in major consumer markets like the US and EU.