MURUMURU REPORT ( Astrocaryum murumuru )

Murumuru is a small palm with a thorny trunk, Astrocaryum murumuru, also known as mumbaca or mambacuçu. Currently, its main use is in the cosmetics industry. The oil extracted from murumuru almonds is transformed into a semi-solid fat called murumuru butter, which companies such as Natura use to manufacture soaps, creams, and shampoos (CONAB, 2022).

PRODUCT

Seeds or almonds—the oil extracted from murumuru almonds is transformed into a semi-solid fat, murumuru butter, which is used in the cosmetics industry to make soaps, creams, and shampoos, in the paint industry as a dryer, and in the pharmaceutical industry (EMBRAPA, 2022).

BY-PRODUCT

Pulp – is not used commercially despite being edible and slightly sweet; oil can also be extracted and used in human and animal food (EMBRAPA, 2022).

Biofuel - Biodiesel produced from murumuru oil has good ignition quality and high oxidative stability. EMBRAPA, 2022).

Users from other parts of the plant - fertilizer, handicrafts, fiber, forage, commercial wood, cover straw, as an ornamental plant. (EMBRAPA, 2022).

CURRENT MARKET SIZE

The gross value of rural murumuru production in 2019 in the State of Pará alone was BRL 43.784,73 (≅ USD 10.525,17), reaching an added value of BRL 96.393,87 (≅ USD 23.171,60) (TNC, 2021).

The global murumuru butter market was valued at $802 million in 2021 and is projected to reach $1.8 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 8.4% from 2022 to 2031 (ANINDITA; ROSHAN, 2022). 

In 2023, the global murumuru butter market reached USD 958.24 million.

PROJECTED FUTURE MARKET SIZE

The global market for murumuru is projected to reach $1.8 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 8.4% from 2022 to 2031 (ANINDITA; ROSHAN, 2022).

In recent years, demand for murumuru seed has increased, mainly from the United States, which orders large volumes (EMBRAPA, 2022). Other countries leading this demand for murumuru are Canada, Mexico, Germany, the UK, France, Italy, China, Japan, etc. 

VOLUMES SOLD/CONSUMED

Murumuru butter is produced primarily in Pará, Amapá, and Acre. In the last decade, these states exported approximately 25 thousand tons of murumuru coconuts (EMBRAPA, 2022).

Conab surveyed the sale of murumuru fruit in markets in Acre and Pará. In the annual assessment, in the state of Acre, the price per kilo of murumuru fruit varied by 40%. A factor that has been decisive for the development of the supply chain is the market demand from large cosmetics companies, which are very interested in murumuru seeds. Murumuru's sales volume and prices have been highly dependent on the activities of these large companies operating in the region. This activity has been more intense in the Pará region due to the presence of representatives of cosmetics and pharmaceutical companies (CONAB, 2022).

PRICE TREND

In the competitive international cosmetics market, Brazilian murumuru fat or butter has been sold wholesale with prices ranging from US$12.95 to US$16.69/kg and orders ranging from 200 kg to 50 tons. For retail purchases, a kilogram of butter has already been quoted at US$85.00/kg (EMBRAPA, 2022).

Examples: Wholesale prices for murumuru butter found on the internet are as follows: 3.5 lbs = $118.63, 7.5 lbs = $209.86, or 44 kg = $1,108.43 (Natural Sourcing, 2023).

Murumuru Butter in a natural stage, unrefined: 64 Oz (4 lb) = $ 89.70 offered by Paris Fragrances & Cosmetics Supplies, INC Store (AMAZON, 2023)

The Cooperativa Nova Cintra (Coopercintra), based in Acre, Brazil, produced 3 tons of murumuru oil/butter in 2014, increasing production to 16 tons in 2018 and 23 tons in 2019. The market price of murumuru butter was approximately US$6.99/kg in 2018 and US$7.94/kg in 2019. Thus, the total value of the harvest to the coop was US$115.000 (≅ BRL 462.300,00) in 2018 and US$188.000 (≅ BRL 782.080,00) in 2019.

HISTORY

At the beginning of the 20th century through World War II, Brazil exported around 40 types of vegetable oils extracted from plants native to the Amazon. After the second war, the demand for vegetable oils from the Amazon fell sharply, leading to the complete extinction of the existing industrial complex in Belém. This trend remained unchanged until the end of the 20th century when a growing interest in vegetable oils from extraction and production systems caused low environmental impacts, the so-called sustainable exploitation (GONZALEZ et al. 2008).  Because it has numerous economic uses, the murumuru (Astrocaryum murumuru) generates demand for raw material supply for both the vegetable oil and biofuel industries (Oliveira De, M. C., et al. 2016). Teixeira et al. (2010) also point out the viability of murumuru as a possible raw material for biodiesel production, which could generate additional income for local farmers in rural communities.

PRODUCTION SYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENT: AGROFOREST, WILD HARVESTING, PLANTING

The murumuru palm is distributed throughout the Amazon ecoregion from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, and Venezuela. It occurs in Brazil's Amazon states of Amapá, Acre, Amazonas, Pará, and Rondônia. With Amapá and Pará the leading producers (EMBRAPA, 2022).

Murumuru is primarily harvested from the forest. The murumuru palm usually grows in humid and temporarily flooded areas near rivers and lakes. It is a light-demanding species, so thinning forest cover by removing larger trees can favor management for commercial purposes. In a floodplain forest inventoried in Pará, its spatial distribution pattern was considered random, and the use group was non-commercial. On the other hand, it was considered an important species due to its environmental and socioeconomic functions, as its fruits are widely consumed by fauna ( GAMA et al., 2000 ).

There is excellent spatial variation in the number of murumuru palms per hectare within and between different regions. In the State of Acre, there are reports of 10 to 28 plants/ha in some areas and as many as 100 plants/ha in others. In Acre, a murumuru palm produces an average of four bunches/year, and each bunch has an average of 300 fruits for a total of 1,200 fruits/palm tree/year or 189 kg of coconuts. In Amapá, each bunch averages 243 fruits/bunch. The murumuru harvest occurs over six months in the Amazonas, Pará, and Amapá, from January to June. When the fruits ripen, the entire bunch falls to the ground, serving as an essential food source for the local fauna. The fruit pulp decomposes rapidly on the moist floodplain soil (EMBRAPA, 2022).

MATURITY TIME

As murumuru is managed in standing forests with established populations, the time needed to establish a murumuru management system is relatively short, especially where local organizations are already collectively managing local forests for the harvest of murumuru almonds/seeds.
Murumuru seeds take 6 to 12 months to germinate. Seedling growth is slow, taking about 4 to 5 years to produce fruit. At the beginning of production, the bunches are small and bear few fruits, but over time, they become larger and produce more fruits (EMBRAPA, 2022).

PRODUCER PROFILE AND SOCIAL IMPACTS

Murumuru is collected by families in riverine communities. Income from murumuru complements that from other sources. With the growing demand for murumuru, increased income from murumuru management could significantly improve the livelihoods of murumuru collectors (EMBRAPA, 2022).

To encourage the collection of murumuru fruit, the Government of the State of Acre has a policy of paying subsidies for the collection of murumuru fruit, which is integrated into the REDD+ project implemented by the State, supported by the Governments of Germany and Norway. The subsidy is a successful experiment in paying producers for the environmental services they make possible and encourages continuity in sustainable production chains. Benefited families are concentrated in riverine areas of forest reserves.

The measure complies with Law 1.277/1999 and acts as an incentive for these families as part of a forest preservation and conservation policy. A total of BRL R$3.1 million (US$771.144,27) was paid to 965 extractivist families for the production of 462 tons of rubber and murumuru in the period from 2018 to 2020 (Revista Acre pelo clima, 2021).

PRODUCTION PROBLEMS

One of the most serious problems limiting murumuru's economic exploitation is the lack of access to oil extraction and processing technology. In addition, further research is needed to develop management guidelines for propagation, cultural practices, harvesting, and processing of the fruits to ensure sustainability and the collection of higher-quality fruit. Mapping studies and developing sustainable management systems for wild populations should also be prioritized.

Another bottleneck in the supply chain concerns the cost of transporting production to processing sites, which are generally located in urban centers. Murumuru fruits are usually transported in small vessels, as the freight charged for transport in larger vessels is prohibitive, given the price paid for the fruits (EMBRAPA, 2022).

In Pará, almond removal is often carried out manually by women and children under contract and receiving low wages. Each person can sort between 60 and 100kg of almonds in an 8-9-hour shift. The average yield of almonds for each 100kg of dry kernels is 27-29kg, with a humidity of 12 to 15% (EMBRAPA, 2022). More efficient and accessible technology for extracting murumuru almonds needs to be developed.

Research is also needed on the potential for developing agroforestry systems, including murumuru palms and other more intensive production systems, that could ensure that local populations benefit from the growing demand for murumuru butter and other products and continue to play an important role in developing supply chains.

SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS

Processing is another problematic link in the supply chain. The kernels have variable sizes, and after drying, they are mixed. Small kernels, when overdried, become very fragile and brittle, while the large ones are not completely dried. Part of the almond may still adhere to the shell, complicating separation and compromising the quality of the fat.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROCESSING AND SIZING

There is an urgent need to develop and disseminate appropriate processing technology that enables families and communities to manage and collect murumuru seeds to benefit from the development of markets for murumuru products. Public policies, such as the subsidy the government of Acre pays for murumuru collection, have proven successful and encourage the continuity of sustainable production chains.

The adoption of policies to structure the murumuru production chain includes 1) technical assistance in project management, 2) logistics planning for production flow, and 3) standardization and certification of products. These measures will improve product quality and strengthen the Minimum Price Guarantee for Sociobiodiversity Products (PGPM-Bio), facilitating the necessary evolution towards a fairer income distribution across all links in developing supply chains (Sociobiodiversity Bulletin, 2022).

CREDIT POTENTIAL/CARBON SEQUESTRATION

As a palm species that can significantly improve returns from forest management and be integrated into agroforestry systems, it can play an important role in forest carbon offset initiatives.

CERTIFICATIONS PROGRAMS

RELEVANT SECTORS

Major companies involved in the murumuru supply chain include: are Jarchem Industries, Inc., Liberty Natural Products, Caribbean Natural Products Inc., BERACA INGREDIENTS NATURALS SA, LUSH RETAIL LIMITED, NSI Group, LLC, Vigon International, Inc., Hallstar Company, H.F.Ed. Meyer GmbH & Co. KG , O&3 Limited

BIOCULTURAL PROTECTIONS OF COMMUNITIES OF ORIGIN (NAGOYA/CGEN/ETC. PROTOCOL)

Brazilian adherence to the Nagoya Protocol, Legislative Decree No. 136 of 08/11/2020, ratified by the national executive in March 2021, can leverage the murumuru production chain due to other countries' use and exploitation of genetic heritage.

REGULATORY INFORMATION

CAS Number: 356065-49-1 – murumuru butter - category emollients, skin conditioners

INCI Name (CTFA): Astrocaryum murumuru seed butter

PS.: For all conversions from Brazilian real (BRL) to US dollar (USD), an average of the values for each year was made (example: sum of the monthly averages for the year 2021, divided by 12. The result was taken with the value dollar average in 2021).

Table with monthly averages:
Year 2009:  USD 1 ≅ BRL 2,11 (annual average).

Year 2018:  USD 1 ≅ BRL 4,02 (annual average).

Year 2019:  USD 1 ≅ BRL 4,16 (annual average).

Year 2020:  USD 1 ≅ BRL 5,44 (annual average).

Year 2021:  USD 1 ≅ BRL 5,90 (annual average).

Year 2022:  USD 1 ≅ BRL 5,30 (annual average).

Year 2023:  USD 1 ≅ BRL 5,18 (annual average).

Year 2024 (until April):  USD 1 ≅ BRL 5,28 (annual average).