Researchers and practitioners in Ghana are turning the often-wasted cashew apple into income and products for young people. In Ayigbe, 35-year-old Michael Kyereme cleared a university debt of GHS 3,500 in three months by selling juice made from the cashew fruit; he now bottles roughly 60 units per cycle and markets them through his wife's shop and social media such as TikTok and WhatsApp.
The activity sits within MA-CASH (Maximising Gains from Cashew Production for Youth Development), led by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research with support from a government ministry and funding from Canada's International Development Research Centre. The project trains youth to produce juice, snacks, meat alternatives, compost and animal feed from cashew apples, and it promotes low-cost cooling technologies.
Globally about 37 million metric tonnes of cashew apples are produced yearly but only about 1.3 million tonnes are commercially processed, according to the UN FAO. Ghana produced over 1.6 million tonnes in 2024, and MA-CASH estimates roughly 90% of that—about 1,449,000 metric tonnes—goes to waste.
Scientists addressed two main problems: high tannin levels in the fruit, which can reduce nutrient absorption, and the need for a protein-rich ingredient that would not trigger allergies. They reduced tannins and added a legume to make a sausage-like, protein-rich product. After ethical clearance and a small social media recruitment, tests in Accra found no significant difference between the new product and a commercial vegan sausage. The project has trained more than 300 young people, its next training session in January 2026 is already full, and the model is expanding to other regions with materials in local languages.
- Longer shelf life using a clay cooler (24 hours to six days)
- Work on three-month shelf life targets
- Beekeeping, savings groups and digital training
Difficult words
- cashew apple — the fleshy fruit attached to a nut on the treecashew apples
- tannin — plant chemical that can taste bitter and reduce absorptiontannins
- legume — a plant whose seeds are high in protein
- compost — decayed organic material used to improve soil
- shelf life — how long a product stays safe and usable
- ethical clearance — official permission to carry out human research
- clay cooler — simple clay device that keeps food cool
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could training in cashew-apple products and digital marketing help young people find income in your area? Give reasons.
- What challenges might MA-CASH face when expanding its model to other regions?
- Do you think low-cost cooling solutions such as a clay cooler are realistic for small food businesses? Why or why not?
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