CAC News
Kampong Thom, June 4—Industry leaders say the growing adoption of automated processing lines is reshaping safety standards in the cashew sector by significantly reducing workers’ exposure to cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), a naturally occurring substance that can cause skin irritation and other health risks.
Under fully mechanized operations, raw cashew nuts pass through enclosed steaming chambers and automated shelling systems, where shells are cracked and separated without direct human contact. As a result, factory workers are increasingly taking on supervisory, technical, and quality-control roles rather than performing manual shelling tasks.
“We are seeing automation not only improve workplace safety but also enhance processing efficiency,” said Silot Uon, Chairman of the Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia (CAC).
Silot noted that the industry is also pursuing new opportunities to maximize the value of cashew byproducts while reducing overall production costs. As part of these efforts, Cambodia is expected to establish one medium-sized CNSL extraction plant alongside two smaller facilities.
The smaller plants will employ Japanese extraction technology capable of processing CNSL in just two stages, while the larger facility is expected to utilize Vietnamese technology requiring a five-stage extraction process.
Industry stakeholders believe these investments will strengthen Cambodia’s cashew value chain, improve competitiveness, and create new revenue streams from previously underutilized byproducts.
