1 Laboratory of Agrovalorization, UFR Agroforestry, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, BP 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire.
2 Center for Study, Research, Consulting and Assistance in Toxicology and Applied Hygiene (CERTOX), 01 BP 4352 Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire.
Research Article
GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2025, 32(03), 232-242.
Article DOI: 10.30574/gscbps.2025.32.3.0369
Received on 09 August 2025; revised on 20 September 2025; accepted on 23 September 2025
Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is a major export crop and source of income in Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s leading producer since 2015. Beyond its economic importance, cashew kernels are valued for their nutritional and functional properties. However, limited information is available on how production environments affect kernel composition. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of agroecological conditions on the physico-chemical and mineral properties of cashew nuts produced in three key regions of Côte d’Ivoire : Bondoukou (Gontougo), Dabakala (Hambol), and Mankono (Béré).
Composite nut samples were collected in each production zone according to EU Regulation N°401/2006. Standard methods were applied to determine biochemical parameters (dry matter, protein, fat, fiber, sugars) and mineral components (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Zn, Cu).
Results revealed marked variability across zones. Nuts from Mankono showed the highest fat (50.14%) and dietary fiber contents (3.40 g/100 g). Dabakala samples were characterized by elevated dry matter (95.55 g/100 g) and protein levels (19.15 g/100 g). In contrast, Bondoukou nuts contained higher sugar concentrations (1.93 °Brix ; 17.20 g/100 g total sugars) and important copper levels (3.57 g/100 g).
These findings demonstrate that agroecological factors significantly affect cashew nut composition, leading to measurable differences in nutritional quality. Such variability highlights opportunities for the regional valorization of Ivorian cashew production, while providing baseline data for both industrial processing and nutrition-oriented utilization.
Cashew Nuts; Biochemical Composition; Mineral Content; Agroecological Variability; Côte d’Ivoire
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Stéphane Yao KOFFI, Réné YAO, Valéry Pierre NIABA and Halbin James KOUADIO. Impact of agroecological conditions on the nutritional and biochemical quality of cashew nuts (Anacardium occidentale l.) in Côte d’Ivoire. GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2025, 32(3), 232-242. Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/gscbps.2025.32.3.0369