World Peanut Magazine 07.2023

index

_ The Dry Summer in Argentina and Other Updates of the Season / 02

_

Market Trends

Are Containers Properly Inspected? / 06

. Sometimes the quality and maintenance of the units do not receive the attention they deserve.

Imports and Exports of Peanuts in the Americas / 12

_

Peanut Market Data

Charts & Tables / 18

Industrial Processing

Final Sizing: Preparing Peanuts for Delivery / 22

. The introduction of electronic sorting machines in peanut plants increased efficiency and product quality.

. How SORTEX sees optical sorting in the future.

. Brendan O'Donnell, Global Director of Nuts at Tomra Foods, talks about how sorting machines will develop in the next 10 to 15 years.

_ Science and Technology

A Common Heritage of Humankind / 28

. Soraya and David Bertioli, both experts in the field of peanut genomics at the University of Georgia, talk about their research and the importance of making the genetic materials available worldwide.

_

Peanuts as a Superfood

Brazilians Like It Sweet / 34

. Paçoca is a popular peanut-based treat, and its consumption is growing.

The Dry Summer in Argentina and Other Updates of the Season

The South American crops are approaching their harvest season, with Brazil already in full swing and Argentina closing in. Due to the summer weather, however, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the crops in the region. Brazil has experienced abundant and beneficial rains throughout the season, which have caused some issues with harvesting but should result in good quality and yields. In contrast, Argentina has suffered the most severe drought in the last 80 years, and an unexpected frost in mid-February added to the industry's panic. As rains finally arrived in March, growers remain hopeful that April will bring high temperatures to help recover some of the lost time. Yields and quality are yet to be determined, but it is clear that Argentina will export less than in 2022.

The producing countries of the Northern Hemisphere are starting to define their planting and appear to be willing to increase their areas due to price trends. The US and China are heading in this direction, but their peanuts will not be

available until the end of the year. Consumption in Europe seems stable and unaffected by inflation, and supply flows to the continent are currently smooth.

The second semester of 2023, however, could pose some challenges to peanut supply to Europe. Time will tell… The next few months will provide the market with the necessary information to replace uncertainty with reality.

In this issue of World Peanut Magazine, we have interviewed two peanut scientists, Soraya and David Bertioli, about advances in peanut genetics and the importance of sharing scientific findings worldwide. We also continue our analysis of peanut trade flows, shifting our focus from Europe (WPM issue 5) to the exporters and importers of the Americas. Additionally, we discuss with industry experts the crucial role container conditions play in maintaining peanut quality during transportation. Our series on peanut processing takes a closer look at final sizing, and the section on peanuts as a healthy food is dedicated to Paçoca, a Brazilian sweet delicacy.

_ Market Trends

This section of the wpm deals with the dynamics of the demand and supply of peanuts in the international markets. We will try to keep track of the changes in peanut consumption in the main areas of the world, the factors that can affect production, and the price shifts of the various peanut products.

_ Industrial Processing

This area of the magazine focuses on shellers as well as companies transforming peanuts into consumer products. We will focus on current industry standards, quality issues, new technologies and the different industrial solutions adopted by producing countries. A special section will be dedicated to new products and tools for peanut processing developed by the best manufacturers.

_ Science and Technology

The activities of the universities and other research institutes engaged in scientific research on peanuts are of paramount importance for the future of the business. We will follow the main discoveries, from the latest issues concerning peanut genetics to the development of projects on pathogens or the impact of peanut consumption on human health. The consequences of scientific research on the future of the industry are hard to overstate, so we will be putting them in perspective in order to try to understand where the sector is heading in the long term.

_ Laws and Regulations

The Laws and Regulations section of World Peanut Magazine analyses the impact of new legislation and regulations affecting the production and trade of peanuts. The main issues treated in this section are governmental measures directly affecting international trade (such as the introduction of tariffs or quotas), health safety issues (such as the establishment of Maximum Residue Limits for certain substances) but also legislation impacting distribution, packaging and sales.

_ Peanut as a Superfood

This section offers peanut professionals news and insights into the world of peanut consumption and all its aspects. Typical news is related to findings concerning the nutritional values of peanuts, the impact of peanut consumption on human health, and the development of peanut-based food.

_ Peanut Farming

The primary production is where the peanut business starts, of course, so we will have a dedicated section for all events, activities, techniques and equipment related to growing peanuts in different parts of the world. The general idea is to bring farming in the producing countries closer to all peanut professionals so that they can have a better grasp of the business from a grower’s perspective and maybe on what the future of peanut farming may look like.

Sometimes the quality and maintenance of the units do not receive the attention they deserve.

Usually when something goes wrong, whether it happens when loading or during the freight, the problem becomes apparent once the container arrives at port, and the content is downloaded. Understanding which party is responsible is not always easy and, in some cases, the companies involved attempt to avoid liability by addressing the malpractice of the other actors in the logistic chain. Typical causes of these accidents are faulty procedures when stacking the containers on the ship, but many times accidents could be avoided with the proper inspection and maintenance of the containers themselves. For this issue of World Peanut Magazine, we sought the opinion of two experts to look more closely at container quality and inspection in general and the potential impact on the peanut trade.

Perhaps the main reference for container standards in the world is the USbased Institute of International Container Lessors (IICL), “the leading trade association of the marine container leasing and chassis provider industry… The IICL, on behalf of its members, is active in governmental, regulatory, customs, tax, educational, technological, and environmental matters.” In this capacity, the institute issues international standards for the inspection and maintenance of containers. International rules for the handling of containers

Accidents involving containers can be a real headache for all parties involved: the sea freight company, the buyer, the seller and even the insurance company.

also have a recognized base in the 1972 Convention for Safe Containers, the goal of which is to “facilitate the international transport of containers by providing uniform international safety regulations, equally applicable to all modes of surface transport.”

The problem is that on many occasions the parties involved do not follow the standards at all, and, in fact, as Ricardo Pagnon Terraga states, “IICL standards are not generalized.” Particularly during the Covid emergency, when the cost of freight and container leases went through the roof, many lines instructed inspectors not to follow IICL practices but rather “just inspect light and water.” Pagnon is a IICL-certified container inspector at the Port of Valencia, Spain, and explains that even though freighters do not want to risk damaging the goods, the cost can become the prevailing issue: “Sometimes the freight line, when receiving a repair quote for a unit that had been inspected according to the company’s criteria, just changes it and gets rid of a few items.” Unfortunately, sometimes, those who decide on the details of container maintenance and repair “do not have the necessary experience in either inspection, or repair.”

Of course, the lack of proper repairs can be dangerous: “If a container bean was hit and curved, it is very important how to position the container within the ship: the faulty bean might cause the collapse of an entire pile.”

During the Covid emergency the situation was very difficult for the peanut trade: “The main problems have been the low availability and the high cost,” says Pablo Mataloni, head of certification services at JLA in Argentina, “but an additional issue was the use of general purpose containers for peanuts, something we were not used to… At JLA the inspection points were described in detail in our procedures, but we had to work on the internal communications to make sure that all the personnel was informed and would address the issue in the different loading points.”

Inspections by JLA are concentrated on two elements:

1. The physical conditions of the container in order to detect problems such as roof and walls perforations; stains in the floor and walls; corrosion, lack of gasket and proper door lock.

2. Sanitary conditions: cleaning and abnormal odors.

“Any non-compliance,” Pablo says, “we advise against the use of the container. We do not have an exact record of the number of containers that were rejected during this period. But surely the number of units with odors and bad appearance increased. ”

The same concerns are shared, of course, by customers receiving the containers, in Europe and elsewhere. There is concern about, “container conditions in general but especially regarding chemical treatment that can impact the food product transported,” a large international peanut importer told us. “It is difficult to identify off-odors and with a non-food grade container these risks are higher. It would be very helpful to understand container companies’ practices and set actions to mitigate cross contaminations.” It is not rare to detect, “condensation and visible mold; these problems can increase before arrival at destination. Regarding physical issues, bag damage is a very high issue during transport overseas.”

“Fortunately,” Pablo Mataloni adds, “since mid-2022 we have started to receive a much higher percentage of containers specifically designed to transport food. Of course, the rejection rate dropped dramatically.”

From the Argentine Peanut Chamber, we can add that since the implementation of a regulation of the fiscal authorities (AFIP Resolution Nº 2977/10 concerning enterprises authorized to export from the factory) in 2015, loading operations at shelling plants must be recorded by customs-operated cameras, and the recordings must be kept for one year. These records are commonly used as a source of pictures or videos to prove that loading was done in the proper manner, thus releasing the company from responsibility during loading.

We transform peanuts into a high quality export product

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Imports and Exports of Peanuts in the Americas

We turn our attention to the Americas, a region which is both an important market for the peanut trade and a very significant place of production.

In this issue of World Peanut Magazine, we continue the cycle about peanut trade flows in the most significant regions. In the fifth issue (October 2022) we looked at Europe, now we turn our attention to the Americas, a region which is both an important market for the peanut trade and a very significant place of production. While the tables on the following pages display all the values of imports and exports from the three main producers of the area, namely the US, Argentina and Brazil, in the infographic we feature only the flows which represent an exchange of 1,000 or more metric tons for the sake of clarity. All the data refers to 2022. We consider separately the peanuts belonging to heading 1202.42 of the Harmonized System Classification (shelled peanuts) and those belonging to heading 2008.11 (prepared peanuts).

The sources of the data are the International Trade Centre for the US, INDEC for Argentina and Comexstat for Brazil.

Peanut Imports of main American Countries by Origin (TM)

(HS Heading 1202) Ground-nut, not roasted or otherwise cooked, whether or not shelled or broken.

Peanut Imports of main American Countries by Origin (TM)

(HS Chapter 2008.11) Groundnuts, prepared or preserved (excluding preserved with sugar)

charts tables

peanut exports of brazil - kernels (mt)

60.000

50.000

40.000

30.000

20.000

10.000

& -

2022 2023

eu 27 imports, tm (prepared 2008.11)

china future prices (settle value - rbm)

peanut

of argentina - kernels (mt)

Final Sizing: Preparing Peanuts for Delivery

In previous editions of World Peanut Magazine we covered the many steps the peanuts go through in the processing plant: drying, storage, cleaning, shelling, gravities and stoners, and color/laser sorting . Once all that is done, the peanuts are ready for the last industrial process before packing: final sizing. The kernels are now sound and free of foreign material; the next step is to classify them by size in order to achieve the commercial specifications – or grades – desired.

There are essentially three attributes involved in sizing: size itself (big –small), shape (round – long) and density (higher – lower density).

According to the established world trade practices in peanuts, size can be determined essentially in three ways:

1. Sizing based on screens, where each commercial size is defined by specifying the screens (usually designated in 1/64 of inches or 0.5 milimeters) used to produced it. The screen may determine both size and shape.

2. Sizing based on count, where each commercial size is defined as per the number of kernels in one ounce of peanuts. The relevant variables in this case are size and density.

3. For specific usage, a count distribution requirement can be added to the previous two counting methods, limiting the percentage of big and small kernels to a maximum. In this case all attributes of size, density and shape can be considered.

An example of sizing standard is the one proposed by the American Peanut Shellers Association. See the table on pages 24-25 for the standards set for the runner variety.

Screen types

Available screen types in the market can be classified as follows:

1. Screens with round holes

2. Screens with slotted holes

3. Wired screens

Wired screens usually have a higher opening ratio and are mainly used for removing dust and powder. Slotted screens are used for peanut kernel sizing and also to separate splits (peanuts halves) from wholes. Round holes screen concentrates of shapes as well as sizes; they are used, for example, to remove small round peanut kernels from splits.

These screen types can be found as a flat metal screen (as in pics. 1,2 and 3) or as a rolled metal screen  4

Sizing methods

Different equipment can activate the screens in different ways to achieve the kernel separation.

1. Flat machines use different configurations, with an inclined deck with an angle that ranges from 6 to 12°. The product is fed at the higher end and flows down in two ways:

A. SHAKING MOVEMENT: Screens are moved by an eccentric shaft describing an ellipse on the vertical plane, moving the product down.  5

B. ROTATING MOVEMENT: Screens are moved by an eccentric shaft describing an ellipse on the horizontal plane, moving the product down.  6

2. Cylindrical screen machines use a different configuration: the cylindrical screen rotates with an inclination. The product is fed at the higher end and flows down by gravity in contact with the screen.

Sizing strategy

After all, peanuts come from mother nature, therefore variability from season to season, as well as from variety to variety, and from farm to farm, is wide. Accordingly, shellers must adjust the size of screen holes/slots to account for this variability and achieve their customers’ requirements.

GRADE STANDARD TOLERANCES

Section 1. Jumbo Runner. Jumbo Runner consists of shelled Runner type peanut kernels of similar varietal characteristics which are whole and free from foreign material, damage, and minor defects, and which will either meet an average of 38-42 count per ounce or which will not pass through a screen having 21/64 x 3/4 inch openings.

(1) 1.00 percent for other types of peanuts; (2) 5.00 percent for sound peanuts which are split or broken; (3) 3.50 percent for damage and minor defects combined; (4) 0.20 percent for foreign material; (5) 9.00 percent for moisture; (6) 6.00 percent for sound whole kernels which will pass through the prescribed screen as to fall through; or if size is based on count per ounce, the average count per ounce shall be within the specified range. (7) otherwise meet Minimum Quality Standards published in 7CFR, Part 996 as to fall through.

Section 2. Medium Runner. Medium Runner consists of shelled Runner type peanut kernels of similar varietal characteristics which are whole and free from foreign material, damage, and minor defects, milled through a screen having 21/64 x 3/4 inch openings and which will not pass through a screen having 18/64 x 3/4 inch openings.

(1) 1.00 percent for other types of peanuts; (2) 5.00 percent for sound peanuts which are split or broken; (3) 3.50 percent for damage and minor defects combined; (4) 0.20 percent for foreign material; (5) 9.00 percent for moisture; (6) 6.00 percent for sound whole kernels which will pass through the prescribed screen as to fall through; and (7) otherwise meet Minimum Quality Standards published in 7CFR, Part 996 as to fall through.

Section

No.

Runner consists of shelled Runner type peanut kernels of similar varietal characteristics which are whole and free from foreign material, damage, and minor defects, milled through a screen having 18/64 x 3/4 inch openings and which will not pass through a screen having 16/64 x 3/4 inch openings.

(1) 1.00 percent for other types of peanuts; (2) 5.00 percent for sound peanuts which are split or broken; (3) 3.50 percent for damage and minor defects combined; (4) 0.20 percent for foreign material; (5) 9.00 percent for moisture; (6) 6.00 percent for sound whole kernels which will pass through the prescribed screen; and (7) otherwise meet Minimum Quality Standards published in 7CFR, Part 996 as to fall through.

3. APSA No. 1 Runner.

1

GRADE STANDARD TOLERANCES

Section 4. Runner Grades with Splits.

Runner grades described in foregoing Sections 1, 2 and 3 and further identified by the words "with splits" as follows: "Jumbo Runner with Splits", "Medium Runner with Splits", and "No. 1 Runner with Splits". Tolerances to allow variations incident to proper grading and handling shall be the same as those set forth in the above sections; except 15.00 percent for sound peanuts which are split or broken, of which not over 6.00 percent will pass through a 17/64 inch round opening screen, shall be permitted.

Section 5. Runner Splits. Runner Splits consists of shelled Runner type peanut kernels of similar varietal characteristics which are split or broken, but which are free from foreign material, damage and minor defects and which will not pass through a screen having 17/64 inch round openings. Not less than 90.00 percent, by weight, shall be splits.

Section 6. APSA No. 2 Runner. No. 2 Runner consists of shelled Runner type peanut kernels of similar varietal characteristics which may be split or broken, but which are free from foreign material, damage, and minor defects, and which will not pass through a screen having 17/64 inch round openings.

Section 7. Application of Tolerances.

The tolerances provided in these standards are on a lot basis and shall be applied to a composite sample representative of the lot. However, any container or group of containers in which peanuts are obviously of a quality materially different from that in the majority of containers shall be considered a separate lot, and shall be sampled separately.

(1) 2.00 percent for other types of peanuts; (2) 3.50 percent for damage and minor defects combined; (3) 0.20 percent for foreign material; (4) 9.00 percent for moisture; and (5) otherwise meet Minimum Quality Standards for splits published in 7CFR, Part 996 as to fall through and percent split and broken kernels.

(1) 2.00 percent for other types of peanuts; (2) 3.50 percent for damage and minor defects combined; (3) 0.20 percent for foreign material; (4) 9.00 percent for moisture; and (5) otherwise meet Minimum Quality Standards published in 7CFR, Part 996 as to fall through.

A Common Heritage of Humankind

Soraya and David Bertioli, both experts in the field of peanut genomics at the University of Georgia, talk about their research and the importance of making the genetic materials available worldwide.

// Soraya, you are from Brazil and David from the UK. Tell us how you ended up working on peanuts in the US at the University of Georgia?

That’s right. David and I met when I went to England to do a PhD. He had just finished his DPhil from Oxford and was working as a pos doc at Rothamsted Experimental Station, where I did the practical part of my thesis. Although we come from very different backgrounds, countries, etc, we had in common the desire to make agriculture more efficient and environmentally friendly. We moved to Brazil after I finished the PhD. I went to work at Embrapa and he at the University of Brasilia. The wild peanut seed bank of Embrapa was an amazing resource, well curated, with lots of wonderful information, from a very important crop, yet underutilized. We saw an opportunity to make a difference for the crop by studying and utilizing the wild species. Our story with the US happened when the Peanut Genome Initiative was at full speed – it used DNA from the populations we had created in Brazil with A and B genome species, using the peanut progenitors. As we were so involved with the genome project, our presence in the USA made sense. Once we were there, the University of Georgia recognized the importance of wild species for the peanut crop (Georgia produces over 50 percent of the total US peanuts) and offered us both permanent positions. It was a difficult decision to leave our jobs in Brazil, but we have been very happy at UGA. It offers excellent structure and support to the program. You can see some glimpses of it at https://wildpeanutlab.uga.edu/.

David Bertioli and Soraya Leal-Bertioli.

Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA

// When was your first contact with wild peanut species and why did you decide to dedicate your life to investigating this topic? Did you foresee the impact that your investigations would have on peanut breeding?

The curator of the wild germplasm bank in Embrapa, Brasilia, Dr Jose Valls, was a very inspiring influence. His enthusiasm about the collections, the structure, the different species, it was really contagious! We started to learn about wild species that had strong resistances, but that were also very difficult to cross with the cultivated peanut. We learned about the weird genetics, and the more we learned the more we became fascinated with the genus. Several colleagues at Embrapa joined this quest and, as a group, we started to see the potential of this project. While we had to deal with basic science (genetics, genomics, plant pathology, functional genomics), we always had the practical benefits as the end goal. Embrapa always encouraged us to have collaborations abroad and this helped the knowledge to be shared.

// Let’s get to the technical stuff, could you describe what is so special about wild species?

Wild crop relatives are known to harbor alleles that have been lost in the cultigen, but that can be retrieved by breeding. In the case of peanut, the wilds have a different number of chromosomes (20) than that of the cultivated species (40). This poses significant challenges; it hampered the whole introgression process for years. We have now created a pipeline that allows a constant flow of alleles to peanut. We can now transfer resistances to pests and diseases, yield stability under different environments, drought “tolerance” (in specific areas), productivity, seed size, and many other traits. Now the bottleneck is the capacity to test for these traits.

// How easy is it to take the “good features” of wild species and transfer them to cultivated peanuts? And how long does it take?

While it is not easy, now it is possible and routine. One of the hardest parts is to obtain the allotetraploid, which is a hybrid between wild species which is compatible (crossable) with peanut. This can take anything from one to several years. It depends on the compatibility of the species, the stability of the diploid hybrid, how easy the hybrid duplicates, the stability of the allotetraploid, the capacity of the tetraploid to produce seed and, finally, the compatibility of the allotriploid with peanut (if it produces fertile progeny). We are making these allotetraploids in a structured way,

to incorporate the widest possible genetic diversity in a reasonable number of hybrids. We are depositing these allotetraploid hybrids in seed banks so they can be used in any breeding program as a donor of desirable traits.

// Can you briefly mention the resistance genes that are already available for peanut breeders, and what do you expect may be available in the coming ten years?

The first peanut wild resistances were to root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne arenaria), this work was done at Texas A&M University, using the species Arachis cardenasii. Then, resistance to late leaf spot (Northopassalora personata), which was done at North Carolina State University. Recently, a significant release was Sempre Verde in Brazil, this cultivar, which has resistances from Arachis cardenasii, does not need to be sprayed a single time during the growing season! (In contrast to 7-9 times which has been standard up to now.)

Other resistances are to: early leaf spot, rust, TSWV, Ralstonia solanacearum (in China), GRD (in Africa), stem rot and others. Soon more cultivars will combine these resistances and this will greatly reduce chemical applications.

// In one of your published articles, you addressed difficulties in collecting wild species and sharing them across countries. Could you please explain this? Did anything change with respect to the past?

The Convention on Biological Diversity was implemented in 1993. Before that, collections of wild plants and seeds, and exchanges, were done with few restrictions and indeed were encouraged by a system which prioritized the preservation of germplasm in seed banks. There are numerous examples of large benefits of seed exchange to mankind over the centuries. After the convention was implemented, national laws and regulations, regional agreements and various other layers of bureaucracy have impeded and almost stopped most collections and almost all seed exchange. This poses an enormous threat for food security, to science and local costumes. This is a very undesirable set of changes which damages food security. In the meantime, wild populations are being lost continuously with human expansion into wild areas.

// Are the countries that restrict wild material exchange getting any benefits from these decisions? We hear every day that human activities are impacting biodiversity. Do you see the risks of losing some of these wild materials? Shouldn´t it be safer to have them in seed banks rather than lying in the field unprotected?

Although the intentions of these conventions are good, in over 30 years almost zero benefits have materialized to any country or land owner. The most recent analysis showed that as of 2019 there was only a single payment into Plant Treaty’s Benefit Sharing Fund as a result of its mandatory monetary benefit-sharing conditions. As human population increases, cities and agricultural land expand, natural landscapes disappear and with them, the precious wild species. If it was easier to make collections, seeds could be collected and stored in germplasm banks. Additionally, they would be duplicated and backed up in various other banks, but for that to happen (like it used to routinely before the convention), less stringent legislations would need to be put in place.

// I believe this debate leads to the question regarding who the owner of biodiversity is. In your opinion, should wild species be available for the whole world? Should they be considered humankind’s property rather than that of nations?

This is the core of the question! Wild species used to be considered the “common heritage of humankind.” Unfortunately, some private interests moved to patent genes and the use of wild species. The convention was a reaction to this, but it had massive unintended consequences. Instead of preventing illegitimate private ownership, it created a “hyper-ownership,” where every wild species is governed by multiple laws and conventions. The end result is that it’s much easier to get permission to completely destroy natural habitats (to expand agriculture, infrastructure or housing) than it is to get permission to collect seed from wild plants. What’s needed is to return to the “common heritage” model with added safeguards against illegitimate private ownership.

Peanuts for the World

We are presenting here the abstract of an article written by Soraya and David Bertioli, and other experts in the field, in 2021 and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science: “Legacy genetics of Arachis cardenasii in the peanut crop shows the profound benefits of international seed exchange.”

The narrow genetics of most crops is a fundamental vulnerability to food security. This makes wild crop relatives a strategic resource of genetic diversity that can be used for crop improvement and adaptation to new agricultural challenges. Here, we uncover the contribution of one wild species accession, Arachis cardenasii GKP 10017, to the peanut crop (Arachis hypogaea) that was initiated by complex hybridizations in the 1960s and propagated by international seed exchange. However, until this study, the global scale of the dispersal of genetic contributions from this wild accession had been obscured by the multiple germplasm transfers, breeding cycles, and unrecorded genetic mixing between lineages that had occurred over the years. By genetic analysis and pedigree research, we identified A. cardenasii-enhanced, disease-resistant cultivars in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. These cultivars provide widespread improved food security and environmental and economic benefits. This study emphasizes the importance of wild species and collaborative networks of international expertise for crop improvement. However, it also highlights the consequences of the implementation of a patchwork of restrictive national laws and sea changes in attitudes regarding germplasm that followed in the wake of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Today, the botanical collections and multiple seed exchanges which enable benefits such as those revealed by this study are drastically reduced. The research reported here underscores the vital importance of ready access to germplasm in ensuring long-term world food security.

Brazilians Like It Sweet

Paçoca is a popular peanut-based treat, and its consumption is growing.

One of the most beloved goodies in Brazil is made of peanuts; in this issue of World Peanut Magazine we talked to Tiago Leal, from the food company Santa Helena, based in Sao Paulo, the largest producer and distributor of paçoca in the country.

We talked to Tiago Leal, Innovation and New Business Manager at Santa Helena Alimentos.

// What is Paçoca and what is it made of? Paçoca is one of the most famous sweet snacks in Brazil and is beloved by many Brazilians. Its history dates back to the travels of horsemen during colonial Brazil. Originally, the recipe was savory, as horsemen would carry flour and meat in their bags, which they would crush with a pestle. The name “paçoca,” which comes from the indigenous term “Pa-soka” meaning “crushing with the hands,” refers to the old way of preparing this delicacy.

Over time, new ingredients were added to the recipe until it evolved into its current form with peanuts, sugar and salt. This sweet treat is a staple of Brazilian daily life and is a must-have during regional holidays such as the June festivals and other events.

Paçoca is prepared by crushing peanuts.

// Is it consumed all over Brazil or is it typical of some areas? Paçoca is a popular snack throughout Brazil and is a staple of traditional Brazilian cuisine. It can be found in all states of the country, but is particularly prominent in São Paulo and Minas Gerais. The northeastern states of Brazil are also strong consumers of this product.

Paçoca is especially popular during the São João feast, which is celebrated in many cities throughout the northeast. Some of the most important events are held in Campina Grande, located in the state of Paraiba, Caruaru in Pernambuco, São Luís in Maranhão, Mossoró in Rio Grande do Norte, and Teresina in Piauí.

// I understand Paçoca is associated with many cultural traditions… PPaçoca is a popular delicacy that can be found in many fairs and events throughout Brazil, including the June holidays. These events are celebrated every year to honor three popular saints in the Catholic tradition: Saint Anthony, Saint Peter and Saint John. The festivities begin on June 12, the eve of Saint Anthony, and end on June 29, which is Saint Peter’s Day. Saint John is celebrated on June 23 and 24. These events take place in churches and schools, and are also known as quermesses. The partying often extends into the month of July.

The June holidays were incorporated into the Catholic Church calendar of commemorations and originally marked the start of the harvesting season in Europe. A significant part of the festivities is the traditional dancing, such as the “quadrilhas,” in which participants dress up in regional clothes and set up a bonfire, known as the “fogueira,” which traditionally symbolizes protection to preserve the start of the harvest.

// Is consumption growing over time? The consumption of paçoca has been growing in recent years, thanks to innovation and the launch of new peanut-based products. Santa Helena Alimentos, which accounts for 40 percent of peanut kernel consumption in the country, sells over 1 million units of paçoca every day. During the June festivals, paçoca is one of the most popular products, and last year Santa Helena recorded a 30 percent increase in sales during this time of year.

According to the latest data from ABICAB (the Brazilian Association of the Chocolate, Peanut and Candy Industry), there has been an 8.6 percent increase in all industrialized products made with peanuts between June 2020 and July 2021. However, Brazilians consume only 1.1 kg of peanuts per year, which is much less than the world average of 6 kg per person.

// As a product with high energy content should it be recommended for sports practice? Absolutely, peanuts are a healthy food, like other nuts, but they are also more affordable. At Santa Helena, we have developed a sports line of products with specific formulas for athletes, including our popular brand Paçoquita. Surveys show that people who practice sports consume our products before, during and after training. Our sports line is based on whey protein, with 7 grams of protein in each serving, no trans fats and no added sugar. Within this line, we have Paçoquita Zero and Paçoquita Zero com Aveia, which contains oats, an important source of fiber.

// Santa Helena is the biggest distributor of Paçoca. What are the reasons for this success? Santa Helena has been a leader in the peanut-based confectionery industry for 81 years, dedicated to innovation and meeting the needs and desires of consumers. In 2022, the company achieved 20 percent growth during the June holidays period, mostly driven by the Paçoquita brand, which has been in the market for over 40 years. This growth was made possible through innovative solutions in product formats, serving sizes, packaging and flavor variations. Among the different flavors, the best performing ones are Lovers (with chocolate and hazelnuts), Pamonha (with a reference to the traditional June sweet made with corn) and the recently added Paçoquita Cremosa. The Sports product line, including Zero and Zero Aveia, has also been successful.

Santa Helena invests in different sweet formats and shapes such as rolls and rectangular shapes, and varying serving sizes to support the strategies of distribution channels and satisfy the desires of consumers. This is all part of the company’s commitment to innovation and quality. Santa Helena aims to understand the wants of the public and develop innovative products. As the consumption of peanuts is growing in Brazil, the company sees many opportunities in the market.

As the leading company in this segment in Latin America, we satisfy about 25 percent of Brazil’s consumption of peanut kernels. Since 1997, we have also exported our products to many countries in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia.

This issue of the World Peanut Magazine has been completed thanks to the efforts of:

Pablo Mataloni

Argentina

JLA

Ricardo Pagnon Terraga

Spain

Port of Valencia

Soraya and David Bertioli USA University of Georgia

Tiago Leal

Brazil

Santa Helena

Gabriela Alcorta

Soledad Bossio

Javier Martinetto

Nicolás Cantoro

Martín Gonzales

Edoardo Fracanzani

Sebastián Della Giustina

Argentina cam (Argentina Peanut Chamber)

Graphic Design and illustrations. ese-estudio.com.ar · @ese.estudio.ok

Journalist

Typography.

by Sergio Rodriguez / Cantarell by Dave Crossland / Work Sans by Wei Huang / Noto Sans /

Pictures. Pixabay / Arachis cardenasii by Arizona State University Vascular Plant Herbarium (ASU:Plants) JLA Argentina.

Cámara Argentina del Maní

20 de Septiembre 855 “A”.

(X5809AJI) General Cabrera · Córdoba, Argentina

Tel +54 358 4933118

cam@camaradelmani.org.ar

www.camaradelmani.org.ar