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Boosting exports: new uses for pecan nuts
Led by Latitud, LATU’s research, development and innovation foundation, a strategic initiative will enhance exports of pecans—the only tree nut cultivated in Uruguay—by exploring alternatives for their comprehensive utilization.
Commercial pecan planting began modestly in the 1960s. Today, 1,000 hectares are planted, involving more than 50 producers, most of them grouped in the Asociación de Productores de Pecán del Uruguay (APPU), which promotes development across the value chain and commercialization in both domestic and international markets.
Given the sector’s growth and projected increase in production volume, APPU considers development of the export channel a priority. To that end, it found partners in Latitud and the Universidad Católica del Uruguay (UCU) to design an initiative that strengthens the producers’ network and improves commercialization and the development of value‑added products.
The proposal, submitted by researchers from both organizations, was selected by the Agricultural Technology Promotion Fund of the National Agricultural Research Institute (INIA) and will begin in March 2026.
Objectives:
- Identify requirements in buyer markets for pecans.
- Survey current processing conditions in the country.
- Explore and analyze alternatives for full utilization of the nut, with a special focus on using the shell.
To achieve the latter, the team will carry out chemical characterization and evaluate the relative amounts of the nut’s main structural components (cellulose, lignin, and hemicellulose), studying potential applications in biorefineries.
In addition, using the shell, the team will seek to develop a carbonaceous adsorbent material—commonly known as activated carbon. This approach adds value to the shell, which would otherwise be waste, and returns it to the market within a circular‑economy framework.
The work will be assessed for sustainability, estimating indicators that cover environmental, social, and economic dimensions based on available data.
The information generated will help better position Uruguayan pecan producers in the market and provide alternatives for the utilization and valorization of by‑products that help mitigate environmental impact.
