Climate change is disrupting harvest cycles. How the industry is adapting.
The 2024 harvest season in West Africa was the most disrupted since 2012. Irregular rainfall patterns pushed flowering cycles two to four weeks earlier than historical averages, compressing the harvest window and reducing overall yields by an estimated 8–12%.
“The 2024 harvest was the most disrupted since 2012. Irregular rainfall compressed the harvest window and reduced yields by 8–12%.”
At Gryne, we have responded by diversifying our sourcing geography into Tanzania and Mozambique — countries that are emerging as reliable alternative origins as West African yields become less predictable. We have also established a 90-day inventory buffer for our key clients, insulating them from spot-market volatility.
The longer-term solution is agroforestry. Cashew trees planted alongside nitrogen-fixing legumes show significantly improved resilience to drought stress. We are funding pilot programmes with three cooperatives in Guinea-Bissau to scale this model.
