The Marula Fruit Products Association will coordinate the development of a successful Marula fruit sector in southern Africa.

The sector includes people and organisations in the Marula fruit value chain, from harvester and farmer communities and cooperatives to product developers, exporters and product manufacturers and marketers. The MFPA will work with traditional knowledge holders, government agencies, trade associations, food scientists and technologists, regulators, research institutions, investors and funders.

The association is contributing to an updated sector development plan (SDP) for the Marula sector. Developed with support of the ABioSA project, SDPs are an industry roadmap which include sustainable supply, market access, product and market development, innovation and regulatory compliance.

The MFPA is exploring the potential of Marula agroforestry in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, in an initiative coordinated by Nature For Justice (N4J) and Biotrade Ventures. The project would combine Marula with commercial species like avocado, mango and litchi, alongside 25,000 hectares of assisted natural regeneration to restore indigenous woodlands.

The sector must take account of differing national Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) regulations in southern Africa, ensure conservation and sustainable use, and will require evidence-based ecological, economic and social baseline data and monitoring. The MFPA will work with the relevant regulatory authorities to enable collective solutions to ABS compliance.

The association will actively engage companies and organisations in Europe to promote Marula fruit and advise them on progress with EU market access. The MFPA will assist the southern Africa membership to develop business relationships with these European companies. Key trade shows have been identified and discussions are underway with import promotion agencies.