It also threatens the country’s fast-growing agriculture sector as well as its natural resources – including oil, gold and gum arabic. Over 70% of the world’s gum arabic supply comes from the acacia trees of Sudan. “Right now, it’s impossible to source additional gum arabic from rural parts of Sudan because of the turmoil and road blockages,” Mohamad Alnoor, who runs Gum Arabic USA, told Reuters. Sudan’s gum arabic belt covers about 500,000 km2. “For companies like Pepsi and Coke, they can’t exist without having gum arabic in their formulations,” said Dani Haddad, marketing and development director of Agrigum, a global top-ten supplier, adding that there is no alternative to gum arabic in fizzy drinks, where it prevents ingredients from separating.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 10, 2023 19:40 UTC