Abstract

Brazil nuts come from natural stands in the rainforests in the Amazonian region of Brazil, Bolivia and Peru. They are collected by holders of state concessions and then shelled and packed for export, mostly to Europe and North America. About 10% of the world's Brazil nuts come from the department of Madre de Dios in Peru. There, many families (especially women) supplement their income from collecting and shelling the nuts. While local shelling creates added value (approximately 30%) for the producer, it makes it more difficult to uphold quality standards. The European Community (EC) and the United States have recently tightened their criteria for Brazil nuts, especially with respect to bacterial and fungal contamination and the allowable concentration of aflatoxins. This project will endeavour to find the best way of obtaining an exportable product while allowing local people to maintain or increase their incomes. After testing, the new methodology will be promoted in the department of Madre de Dios through the local Brazil nut collectors association, and a small laboratory for quality control will be set up. Eventually, the results will be used for the establishment of national quality standards for Brazil nuts.

Recipient Institution(s)