Cashew in-cycle – Human-centred design for circular cashew production chains
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69143/2464-9309/19252026Keywords:
human-centred design, agro-waste valorisation, circular systemic design, co-creation, multidisciplinary developmentAbstract
This article presents Jurui, a human-centred design project addressing technological bottlenecks in the cashew production chain in Vichada, Colombia. Operating in a context of informal adaptation and limited infrastructure, the research integrates material experimentation, engineering validation, and participatory design. Cashew shell residues were transformed into composite materials and applied to the redesign of a basket system integrated with nut-opening machinery. Through iterative prototyping and field testing, improvements were observed in ergonomics, safety, material efficiency, and workflow continuity. The project demonstrates how waste valorisation, decentralised manufacturing, and community capacity building can reorganise agro-industrial systems.
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Received: 10/03/2026; Revised: 13/04/2026; Accepted: 21/04/2026
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Copyright (c) 2026 Camilo Ayala-Garcia, Carolina Perez Rodriguez, Clara Ligia Forero Lesmes, Tatiana Cruz Perea, Juan Sebastian Porras, Alejandro Maranon, Camilo Hernández Acevedo, Óscar Álvarez Solano, Alicia Porras Holguín
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