Forager Project, a leader in organic dairy-free foods, today announced the launch of The Cashew Project, a first-of-its-kind multi-year program designed to support cashew farming communities in Côte d’Ivoire. The initiative focuses on organic farming training, financial literacy programs, and sustainable agricultural practices that benefit cashew farmers and the planet. The project aims to improve farmers’ livelihoods, challenge traditional gender roles to empower women in farming, and provide climate change adaptation solutions to ensure sustainable cashew production in Côte d’Ivoire.
Organic cashews are an excellent alternative to cow’s milk and other nuts. Not only do they offer strong nutritional benefits, but they are far more environmentally sustainable due to their drought tolerance and minimal irrigation needs. This multi-year initiative reflects Forager Project’s commitment to building strong relationships with the communities that grow their cashews and its commitment to helping to reduce the impact of dairy.
“Investing in farming communities means investing in the future of our food. It’s part of supporting responsible capitalism,” said Maude Manoukian, chief community officer at Forager Project. “At Forager Project, we support farming practices that adapt to climate change—not worsen it. Cashews cannot be grown in the United States, so our reliance on farming in other countries like Cote d’Ivoire, is critical in minimizing our dependence on cows for milk production. We believe when the farmers who grow our food thrive, so do we.”
This landmark program, developed in collaboration with GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) and olam food ingredients (ofi), is built around multiple training efforts in the Côte d’Ivoire community including:
- Climate-smart agriculture practices: Cashew trees contribute to reforestation when planted on degraded land and support biodiversity through intercropping with cassava and other local crops. The trees also provide habitat for pollinators and wildlife while requiring fewer resources than other nut
crops. Farmers receive training in pruning, erosion control, and composting techniques. - Organic certification training: More than 1,000 farmers are currently in the organic certification process, with field audits and traceability protocols ensuring product integrity from harvest to processing.
- Removing gender-biases in farming: Traditionally, men in Côte d’Ivoire have farmed with the women staying home. The program aims to help more women become farmers and become financially independent. More than 1,000 women across 18 villages in Côte d’Ivoire have been trained and a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) program is also launching to support long-term financial independence for women, with completion expected in 2026.
- Creating infrastructure for quality and impact: As part of the partnership, Forager Project helped fund a warehouse and drying yard in Djébonoua, protecting harvests from moisture and weather while increasing income potential for local growers.
“The Forager Project team is rooted in the philosophy of ‘Soil to Soul’—core beliefs that have always guided us. Nothing is more fundamental than the soil we have; everything else follows from there,” said John Charles Hanley, co-founder and president at Forager Project. “Whether it’s the cashew farmers that grow our ingredients, the harvesters, or anyone in our supply chain, it all starts with the soil. When you treat the soil with respect and care, it transforms how you think about everything you do. That’s why programs like our Cashew Project are so critical—it’s one way of ensuring that our commitment to soil health translates into real support for the farmers who make our products possible.”
Over the next two years, the project seeks to improve the lives of cashew communities, by supporting 10,000+ farmers – 50% of whom are women and young adults – through comprehensive training and support to enhance quality and empower farmers to achieve sustainable livelihoods.
This unique partnership demonstrates how supporting farming communities creates benefits that extend far beyond individual farms. Better tools and training lead to higher-quality products, improved yields, and better wages for farmers. Enhanced post-harvest practices result in better-tasting cashews that meet Forager Project’s high standards.
