Shea (<i> Vitellaria paradoxa </i> C. F. Gaertn.) – the emergence of global production networks in Burkina Faso, 1960–2021 1

After Burkina Faso's independence, shea butter continues to be the key staple edible oil used by Burkinabe households although alternatives are now being placed in local markets. Shea ( Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn.) is primarily managed as a food tree crop for African consumers but has been promoted wild and abundant which gives women cash empowerment. New international demand Cocoa Butter Equivalents (CBEs) from 1960s onwards led introduction of several state-led efforts regulate control trade through stabilization funds parastatal marketing boards. These were abandoned after 1984, when cocoa prices collapsed markets liberalized. Increasingly since 2003, leading Trans-National Corporations that manufacture CBEs involved sourcing kernels meet growing demands multi-billion-dollar confectionary cosmetics industries. Faso Ghana two main exporting countries producing 60–75% all offtake. West, Central East collectors their associations have also managed, more recently, 'hand-crafted' global personal care sector new niches industry. Attempts explain radical transformation supply chains West Africa focused on relatively recent events actions detached broader historical context they embedded. This paper adopts broad periodization, stemming formulation incorporating palm stearin 1960s, using Global Production Network approach understand role position producers at intersection global, regional, periodic It challenges assumption necessarily viable alternative reliance local, domestic, or regional The growth accompanied significant land cover use changes progressive loss trees, biodiversity, other ecosystem services such pollination carbon sequestration. presents socio-economic challenges, including threats nutrition security, tenure rights livelihoods communities.