GLOBALG.A.P. Registered Trainer supports the export of new superfood in Zimbabwe

Registered Trainers are agricultural experts who are supported by GLOBALG.A.P. to train producers, certification bodies, and other interested parties on the implementation of GLOBALG.A.P. standards. All Registered Trainers have completed a training program and passed the final exam. With their firsthand knowledge of the GLOBALG.A.P. system, Registered Trainers  are a key part of capacity building activities and play a major role in promoting responsible farming practices around the world.

Bambara nut set for European market

Clarence Mwale is a Registered Trainer and owner of the multinational company Fair-Mark, founded in Zimbabwe, that supports the agri-food industry. He has trained more than 1,200 rural smallholder farmers in the GLOBALG.A.P. certification of Bambara nut production processes.

The nuts will enter the European markets as a certified novel food for the first time. Novel foods are defined as foods which have not been widely consumed by humans in the European Union before 15 May 1997. This includes new and innovative foods (such as vitamin sources), foods produced using new technologies and processes (such as krill oil), and regional foods originating from other countries (such as chia seeds).

Bambara nuts originated in West Africa, and despite widespread cultivation across the continent, are largely unknown in Europe and North America. Potentially the next big superfood, the Bambara nut is an excellent source of plant-based protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals such as iron, calcium, and magnesium. The plant is also resilient in harsh conditions and known for improving soil fertility in dry regions.

Milestone for Zimbabwe

Registered Trainer Clarence Mwale is leading the project on the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) for combinable crops certification process for the Bambara nut and also supports the implementation of quality management systems, enabling internal auditing and self-assessments in the districts of Chivi and Gokwe (Masvingo Province) in Zimbabwe.

The project is funded by the European Union Delegation in Zimbabwe under a program called SCOPE4IVC – Strengthening Competitiveness and Potential for Export for Inclusive Value Chains. Thanks to Clarence Mwale’s expertise, 1,193 members from the Chivi and Gokwe districts will be registered as a GLOBALG.A.P. producer group under the name The National Association of Bambara Nut Growers and Processors of Zimbabwe.

Next steps

The products will now be exported through various product marketing organizations. The buying and selling of the Bambara nut crop will be facilitated and monitored by the SCOPE4IVC project to ensure that farmers receive fair prices until such a time that the value chain is working effectively. This will ensure a better livelihood for the producers.

To discover how Registered Trainers can help you, find a Registered Trainer on the GLOBALG.A.P. website

Photo by kind permission of Clarence Mwale