Gum Arabic – World Association for Sustainable Development (WASD)

This book “Gum Arabic: Trade, Food Security and Sustainable Development” will focus on all what you need to know about “Gum Arabic” particularly issues relating to Trade, Food Security, and Sustainable Development (SD). The book will explore the international trade aspects, food security, economic, social and environmental challenges relating to Gum Arabic with particular emphasis on the significant challenges and opportunities for major producing countries like Sudan.

The main aims is to address the question of how Sudan can realises its potential of being the leading country in the world in the production of Gum Arabic and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for SD. In doing so, the book will critically analyse the potential for the growth of Sudanese Gum Arabic sector, the challenges for realising its potential, so that Sudan can become an international leader in the production and export of Gum Arabic. The book puts together, for the first time, original and cutting-edge contributions aimed at illuminating and charting new directions for researching, teaching and understanding of this extremely rare and important commodity.

CALL FOR CHAPTERS
Deadline for abstract Submission: 30th September 2020
Deadline for Chapter Submission: 15th November 2020

In order to assess the suitability of any submission for any book in the Series, authors are required to submit an abstract (100–150 words maximum) which concisely and clearly outlines the purpose, methodology, findings, contribution, limitation as well as practical implications (if applicable) of the chapter. Please consult the Guidelines for Chapters Preparation before submitting your abstract/chapter. Manuscripts, in the first instance, should be forwarded no later than 15th November 2020 to Janet Snow (janet.snow@wasd.org.uk).

Aims and scope

The key question the book will attempt to answer is: how Sudan can realises its potential of being the leading country in the world in the production of Gum Arabic and achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for SD. In doing so, the book will critically analyse the potential for the growth of the Sudanese Gum Arabic sector, the challenges for realising its potential, so that Sudan can become an international leader in the production and export of Gum Arabic.

This book will focus on all what you need to know about “Gum Arabic” particularly issues relating to Trade, Food Security, and SD). The book will therefore explore the international trade aspects, food security, economic, social and environmental challenges relevance to Gum Arabic with particular emphasis on the significant challenges and opportunities major producing countries like Sudan.
The book will also discuss the low productivity of Gum Arabic sector in Sudan which is mainly driven by low technical efficiency, moreover issues relating to the role of technology transfer in raising productivity will also be discussed in the book.
Promotion, marketing and international trade of Sudan’s Gum Arabic which have been very poor during the last many years due to severe international sanctions led by the US; and many other problems and challenges facing Sudan will be analysed in the book.
Another focus of the book will be on the policy implications and sustainability of any massive investment in Sudan. Unsustainable investments will have negative impacts on both investor and recipient countries and on all stakeholders involved.

Background and content

Sudan could be – with its massive untapped land and water potential – the bread basket of the world. Sudan has always been seen as the “largest farm in the world” in the Gezira irrigated Cotton scheme (Mohamed, et al, 2008; Yousif, 1997) and was until recently the biggest producer of Gum Arabic in the world. Sudan also have good access to the sea from many neighbouring countries and therefore, Sudan is also being considered as an investment destination for agricultural investment, particularly from oil-rich Arab countries.

Gum Arabic is a natural exudate obtained from the stems and branches of certain species from the Acacia genus. It is a strategic commodity with several manufacturing applications, as well as in confectionery, beverages, other food industries, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and prebiotic. Gum Arabic is a gifted commodity for producing countries in Africa due to its probable to generate foreign exchange, promote sustainable development of agriculture and forestry, ensure food security and combat desertification and climate change. It has the potential of playing a critical role in producer countries’ efforts to achieve the 17 SDGs of the 2030 Agenda for SD.

Pedagogical Features:
In keeping with the high standards of books that also serve as texts for student and research audiences this text intends to overcome many of the weaknesses that are ascribable to many texts such as being densely conceptual. These weaknesses have often made them unsuitable for class-room usage at both undergraduate and post graduate levels. This text therefore intends to subscribe to the following pedagogical considerations:

Consistency in structure content and general flow will be managed by editors working very closely with contributors to ensure.
Each chapter contribution will consist of clearly specified aims/learning objectives, properly defined terms and concepts, illustrations that are of real-life/short cases, relevant end of chapter review questions, useful further readings, etc.
The edited text will as a consequence have a clearer positioning and be more market oriented in terms of the targeted audience needs.

Mohamed, A. E., Elhag, A. E. and Ahmed, A. (2008) Food Security in Sudan: Policies and Strategies. UN World Food Programme (UNWFP)/Inderscience, Geneva: Switzerland. 158 Pages.
Yousif, G. M. (1997) The Gezira Scheme: The Greatest on Earth, First print. Earth Council: http://www.ecouncil. ac.cr/.