shea industry - The Deeping

Global demand for shea butter is growing: but it’s not all good news for the women who collect the nuts

Jan 27, 2026

Francois Questiaux, University of Copenhagen and Marieve Pouliot, University of Copenhagen Shea butter has become a highly sought-after ingredient in cosmetics and food manufacturing worldwide. Since the early 2000s its use as a substitute for cocoa butter has driven a dramatic rise in international demand. The shea butter industry has grown by more

Ghana’s shea industry is not taking care of the women behind its growth

Dec 5, 2023

Abiba Yayah, University of Calgary Ghana’s shea industry has a rich history. Shea – nkuto, karite, galam in some west African languages – is deeply embedded in the culture and tradition of the country’s northern regions. It is often considered a woman’s crop – women pick the fruit and extract its “butter” –

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Global demand for shea butter is growing: but it’s not all good news for the women who collect the nuts

Ghana’s shea industry is not taking care of the women behind its growth