Some factors influencing the demand for gum arabic (Acacia senegal (L.) Wild.)_and other water-soluble tree exudates

Abstract Although the tonnages of gum arabic and other water-soluble tree exudates sold annually have tended to decrease steadily over the past 15 years for a number of identifiable reasons, there still remains some commercial demand for those few gums that meet international specifications and are, moreover, available in steady supply from year to year at competitive prices. Wood scientists and those involved in forest management in gum-producing or potential gum-producing areas now have an important role to play if the maximum possible economic return is to be realised by the countries concerned. There is, for example, a need for the specified source species to be identified and regenerated, for non-permitted species to be eradicated from areas of intensive gum-production and for educational programmes to be initiated to help those native populations still involved in gum-production by traditional methods to become more aware of the changing requirements of international gum trading. This brief review is offered in the belief that a single-minded interest in extending knowledge of gum chemistry and a simultaneous, but disparate, interest in gum-bearing trees by wood scientists and foresters are no longer adequate. All concerned should try to combine their professional interests, taking into account the economic, regulatory and other factors which now influence the supply of and demand for gum exudates on an international scale. Scientists of all disciplines share a responsibility to become aware of the decisions of the international regulatory committees concerned with ensuring food safety, in order that they can become more active (particularly in remote areas where the dissemination of such information is understandably slow) in discouraging the commercial utilisation of gums from sources that have not been evaluated and approved.