In the arid and semi-arid lands of northern Kenya, a small but powerful intervention is quietly transforming degraded landscapes and the lives of local communities. At the heart of this effort is gum arabic—a natural resin harvested from drought-resistant acacia trees that has a wide number of uses as an emulsifier, stabiliser or thickening agent used in industries ranging from food and beverage to paints, cosmetics, and industrial processes.

Through its work with social enterprise Acacia EPZ, Regeneration’s Markets Readiness Technical Assistance (MRTA) Facility is showing how wild-harvested commodities can drive ecological restoration and economic opportunity in some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions.

Regeneration, a Palladium and Systemiq platform, works through the MRTA Facility to provide no-cost technical assistance to small and medium-sized agribusinesses in Africa producing sustainable commodities in regenerative agroforestry systems.

Gum arabic emerged as a promising commodity through MRTA’s initial commodity prioritisation exercise, which evaluated opportunities based on market demand, ecological viability, and potential for landscape restoration. “Gum arabic stood out for its strong alignment with both the local ecosystem and viable market prospects,” says Sabina Gordon, Senior Commercial Associate on MRTA. “It’s uniquely suited to thrive in degraded drylands, making it a strategic choice for restoration efforts.”

Acacia EPZ, a Kenyan enterprise already working with gum arabic, was introduced to the MRTA team by the World Resources Institute (WRI), which had supported Acacia through its Land Accelerator programme. “They came highly recommended,” Gordon notes. “After screening them against our criteria, they were onboarded as one of 20 companies in our portfolio.”

While many MRTA-supported enterprises focus on accessing European markets, Acacia EPZ had already secured a long-term, exclusive partnership with a major buyer. Instead, MRTA’s support centred on strengthening the company’s community-led model and promoting financial inclusion.

A key innovation introduced during the project was a Revolving Fund mechanism. Under this model, Acacia provides gum collectors with a bonus of 10 Kenyan shillings per kilogram of resin harvested. These bonuses are pooled into a communal fund managed by the collectors themselves. “Members can apply for small loans to cover urgent needs like school fees or medical bills, or to invest in livelihoods,” Gordon explains. “As loans are repaid, the capital is recycled, allowing the community to build resilience and financial independence over time.”

However, scaling gum arabic production in Kenya’s drylands is not without its challenges. “Cashflow limitations are a major constraint,” explains Monica Kinyua, Business Associate on MRTA. “Many communities have limited income-generating opportunities, which leads to low liquidity and reduced participation in activities like gum harvesting.” She adds that financial exclusion further compounds the issue: “The absence of nearby banks and formal financial services restricts savings, credit access, and business growth.”

Environmental pressures also threaten the long-term viability of gum arabic. Prolonged droughts—exacerbated by climate change—are stressing gum-producing ecosystems. “We’re also seeing widespread logging of acacia trees for firewood and the aggressive spread of Prosopis juliflora, an invasive species that displaces native acacias,” Kinyua notes. “Addressing these interconnected issues is critical for Acacia EPZ’s growth and long-term success.”

The environmental benefits of gum arabic production remain significant. Acacia trees’ deep roots stabilise soil, reduce erosion, and enhance water retention—critical in reversing desertification. “As these native species are reintroduced, degraded landscapes begin to recover, supporting biodiversity and boosting ecosystem health,” says Gordon. Their drought-resilience and ability to sequester carbon also help buffer communities against climate shocks and contribute to climate mitigation.

Crucially, gum arabic harvesting is accessible to smallholder collectors, requiring minimal equipment and no land ownership. In dry seasons, when farming is not viable, it offers a vital income stream for households. “It’s especially valuable for marginalised groups, helping them afford food, education, and healthcare,” Gordon adds.

This community-first, ecosystem-based model has wide potential for replication. “Wild commodity harvesting is highly adaptable,” Gordon says. “It can work across different geographies and commodities—especially where industrial-scale production would threaten ecological integrity.”

Gordon points to similar models in forested regions involving the sustainable collection of resins, nuts, fruits, and medicinal plants. “These models preserve biodiversity, sequester carbon, and empower Indigenous and local communities who are natural stewards of their land.”

Compared to conventional monoculture agriculture, which often accelerates environmental degradation, wild harvesting offers a more sustainable and proactive path. “It’s a compelling alternative to mechanisms like REDD+, which tend to intervene only after degradation has occurred,” Gordon explains. “Wild harvesting helps maintain ecosystem health before it reaches a tipping point.”

The gum arabic project has also expanded the geographic and ecological scope of Regeneration’s portfolio, which has historically focused on tropical forests and high-value commodities like cocoa and coffee. “This project in Kenya’s drylands gave us a unique opportunity to test the model in a very different context,” says Gordon. “It’s broadened our understanding of how restoration and livelihoods can go hand-in-hand in arid regions.”

As the global development community looks for scalable solutions to climate and ecological crises, the gum arabic initiative offers a compelling model—rooted in local stewardship, ecological restoration, and market-based solutions.