KEY INTERVIEW: Almonds Are a Talking Point for Many Reasons, Don’t Let Water Be One of Them

21 Oct 2015 --- The popularity of the almond is growing at a steady rate. Not only is the modern consumer looking for tasty snack convenience, s/he is also demanding a snack that is healthy and has a touch of indulgence. The humble almond fits with all these criteria and is becoming the ingredient of choice for snack manufacturers eager to include a bit of crunch in their products. However, due to the long term drought in the almond’s leading growing area, California, a shadow has been cast over the almond’s recent success. At a recent Almond Board of California press briefing, president Richard Waycott spoke to FoodIngredientsFirst to put the almond firmly into context in terms of its sustainability and growing opportunities, and also how to ensure that the future of California’s water supply can be optimised in a way that benefits all interests.

There is likely to be an increase in almond production as more players see the agricultural value of the product, as well as the fact that it is one of the only agricultural products that uses the whole nut, case, kernel and all. It also yields a high value per square kilometre grown, and the industry is set to grow again as emerging markets such as Brazil, China and India become major consumers of nuts, and particularly almond products.

With some four years of drought behind them, the almond farms of California are hoping that the end of the drought is in sight and that a return to measured growth is on the cards. Waycott is hopeful that, although a further drought is inevitable, a period of wetter climate will give the almond growers the opportunity to implement a better irrigation strategy, which will benefit both almond growers and the Californian agriculture industry. As it stands, water usage by almond growers is not as high as some fear. According to Waycott, just 9% of California’s agricultural water usage comes from almond growing, and almonds contribute to under 4% of total Californian water usage. On the other had, the industry employs over 100,000 Californians and in 2013 generated some $11bn to the state’s income.

However, such a relatively small water usage does not mean that the Almond Board and the industry does not take its responsibility to the environment seriously, particularly during the drought period. The Almond Board has gone to great lengths to make good on its commitment to California in relation to its water problems and it wants to ensure that the greatest impact possible is made through its project to improve irrigation and soil moisture management. Part of this commitment involves the replenishment of underground aquafers and using ground water to its best potential.

“As an organisation we need to look at what is possible in relation to water conservation. We have looked into the possibilities in alliance with Sustainable Conservation and identified the potential areas where we can use ground water to combat water shortages in the future,” says Waycott. “We want to commit to the state of California that as an industry we are doing our best to make an impact in positive irrigation and soil moisture management. With 6,800 growers, most of whom are family-owned, there is huge potential for making changes.”

“Demand for almonds is just going to grow,” said Waycott. “Currently, Europe is our biggest market outside of North America, but as healthier snacking continues to make an impact on the global stage, the diversity of the almond speaks to those interested in health and nutrition. There is also an opportunity to grow the market in emerging markets like Brazil, China and India, and the almond’s versatility and shelf life fit into that space.”

Waycott explained how the board has developed a programme that almond growers can use in order to monitor and manage their own development. The California Almond Sustainability Program (CASP) puts different processes involved in growing and harvesting into manageable areas that include irrigation and nutrition management, pest control, air quality, energy efficiency, financial management, ecosystem management and workplace & communities. Growers can use these to self-audit and call on the support of the Almond Board if required. The Almond Board, in turn, can consolidate the numbers and compare the different growers. By using this model, Waycott hopes that the industry in California will make smart progress to become carbon neutral, if not carbon negative.

Progress so far has been positive. The Almond Board has invested heavily in its environmental impact in recent years and Waycott explained that irrigation projects have already contributed to a 33% increase in water efficiency, largely due to the implementation of micro-irrigation, which targets water straight to the roots of trees, and optimises run-off water. In many cases growers have to wait until it is time to replant orchards before they can implement significant changes.

“Ultimately, there is a lot more to almonds and their potential than the water issue,” concludes Waycott. “Their taste, texture and nutritional value all contribute to their desirability, and their environmental footprint is no more than other crops growing in California, not to mention the 100,000 people employed by the industry in just one state. With ongoing investment and research, the environmental impact will decrease further and if and when a drought returns we will be bigger and stronger to deal with it head on."

By Kelly Worgan