DATE / TIME:

April 17, 2013    10:00 - 11:30

Location:

Accra

Shea butter, a fatty extract from shea nuts, is used in natural skin care products, cooking oil and other value-added products. In the course of processing, residue is generated and discarded as useless waste. However, the residue is known to have a multitude of benefits — a source of energy, construction material and animal feed to mention a few. With proper valuation and appropriate technologies, this bio-waste can be converted to an important livelihood option. Understanding of this product can have a positive contribution to well-being of the people in the west and central Africa semi-arid savannah belt where shea trees are abundant. In the interest of developing a research proposal, this seminar addresses the following questions:

• What are the existing and potential uses of shea residue?
• How can use of this bio-waste contribute to enhancing livelihoods and well-being, and improving sustainable natural resources management?
• How can shea residue use be sustainably improved?

About the speaker

Yasuko Kusakari is a Research Fellow with the UNU Institute for Natural Resources in Africa. She has an M.P.S. in International Development from Cornell University. She has 15 years of experience of rural development in various countries in Africa as a practitioner, trainer and researcher.