In 2006 gum arabic exports soared to 280 million, making it by far the leading agricultural export.

In the course of 2004, a 10 country project on the use of gum arabic for land rehabilitation and economic development in dryland areas in Africa was prepared.

A third class of dietary material, fiber (i.e., non digestible material such as cellulose), seems also to be required, for both mechanical and biochemical reasons, though the exact reasons remain unclear.

Since COP 6, the chef de file position of Norway in Ethiopia and the preparation of a multi country project on gum arabic, are illustrative of the outcome of these policy advocacy activities.

Contacts were established with other specialized organizations that work on gum arabic issues, including the Common Fund for Commodities, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and ICRISAT.