By
Teresa Mersereau

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Mangoes are a delicious and versatile fruit. They can be used in anything from chutneys to salads and delicious desserts. They are popular too, with 43 million tons of them produced globally every year. Healthwise, they’re powerhouses with vitamins A, B6, C, E, and K. In fact, just one cup of mangoes has two-thirds of your daily vitamin C requirement. But the production of mangoes can also have some significantly unethical and unsustainable qualities. So we had to ask: Is eating mangoes ethical and sustainable?

In this article, we will assess both the ethical and sustainability practices of the mango industry. Through these two lenses, you will be able to gain in-depth knowledge of the overall impacts of the mangoes that you eat!

Here’s How We Assessed the Ethics & Sustainability of Mangoes

The Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) is one of the ways we measure the externalities of our actions, like the consumption of mangoes. It is a holistic assessment based on the potential impact of food and agriculture operations on the environment and people. Those impacts are changes in our environment that can have adverse effects on the air, land, water, fish, and wildlife or the inhabitants of the ecosystem.

“Ethical: The discipline concerned with what is morally good and bad and morally right and wrong”

Encyclopedia Britannica

Ethics and sustainability are closely interconnected concepts that share a common objective: the well-being and preservation of our planet, including all its life and future generations.

“Sustainable: The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level | Avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance”

Oxford Dictionary

Basically, all goods and services you buy—including mangoes—leave an impact on people, animals, and our environment. And when it comes to food in general—and mangoes in specific—the following are key factors for their ethics and sustainability:

• Social and economic conditions: The ethics of food crucially depends on the social and economic conditions of the farmers who grow them. Especially on fair labor practices, including fair wages and safe working conditions.
• Seasonality: Eating seasonally is a lever of sustainability. The two key reasons are that seasonal food is more likely grown in their “natural growing season” without using greenhouses, and also more likely to be grown locally.
• Land requirements: Large parts of the world that were once covered by forests and wildlands are now used for agriculture. 10 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually and 50% of the world’s habitable land is now used for agriculture. This loss of natural habitat has been the main driver for reducing the world’s biodiversity. 
• Water footprint: 70% of global freshwater is now used for agricultural purposes. By assessing the water footprint of a particular food, we can determine how our limited freshwater resources are being consumed and polluted.
• Pesticide and fertilizer usage: Pesticides and fertilizers provide a range of agricultural benefits. However, numerous studies link pesticides and fertilizers to serious effects on human health, along with disruptions to vital ecosystems and the spread of aquatic dead zones.
• Carbon footprint: The carbon footprint is one of the ways we measure the effects of our human-induced global climate change. Today, food production accounts for over a quarter (26%) of global greenhouse gas emissions.
• Waste generation: Food and its packaging account for almost 45% of the materials landfilled in the US alone. And packaging sent to landfills, especially when made from plastics, does not degrade quickly or, in some cases, at all.

To understand the overall ethics and sustainability of mangoes, we must assess each of their key factors. This Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) is a tool developed for assessing the impact of food and agriculture operations on the environment and people. And this tool helps us to evaluate whether eating mangoes is ethical & sustainable.

Here’s How Ethical & Sustainable Eating Mangoes Is

The overall ethics & sustainability of mangoes is moderately bad. They engage in some very unethical practices, such as child and forced labor in India, as well as many unsustainable practices, such as monoculture farming, use of harmful nitrogen fertilizers, and styrofoam packaging. 

There are some good qualities to mangoes in terms of sustainability. For example, they have very low pesticide usage, minimal irrigation requirements, and a below-average carbon footprint compared to other fruits. However, for the most part, they engage in more unsustainable practices. 

So, let’s have a look at the ethics & sustainability impact of each key factor of mangoes!

Key Assessment Factors	Ethics & Sustainability
Social and economic conditions of mangoes	Mangoes’ social and economic conditions are very poor. This is mainly because of accusations of low and unstable pay in Peru and allegations of child and forced labor in India.
Seasonality of mangoes	Mangoes’ seasonality is between May and August, give or take. Outside of this season, they are typically imported from Mexico, Peru, or Ecuador.
Land requirements for mangoes	Mangoes have a low land yield of around 5–22 tons per hectare. They also use monoculture farming practices which cause deforestation. Mangoes also have a longer than average growth duration so, they require a lot of resources to grow.
Water footprint of mangoes	Mangoes have a moderate water footprint of 26–52 inches per year. Their irrigation requirements mean that they are only minimally unsustainable at this stage.
Agrochemical usage for mangoes	Mangoes’ agrochemical use is moderate. Their pesticide use is low, but their fertilizer use is high. In particular, their use of nitrogen fertilizer is very unsustainable.
Carbon footprint of mangoes	Mangoes have a carbon footprint of 0.21 kg (0.46 lbs) CO2e per pound of mangoes. The main factors that contribute to this number are the mechanized production process, the usage of non-biodegradable/non-recyclable materials in packaging, and aviation transportation.
Waste generation of mangoes	Mangoes’ waste generation is fairly high. This is because they use styrofoam packaging, which has a low recycling rate.

These are the overall summaries, but there is a lot more to the story. In the next few sections, we will dive deeper into each stage to illustrate to you all the important aspects of mangoes’ ethics & sustainability.

How Ethical & Sustainable Are the Social and Economic Conditions for Mangoes

Mangoes’ social and economic conditions are very poor. This is mainly because of accusations of low and unstable pay in Peru and allegations of child and forced labor in India. 

Everything we consume was made or harvested by somebody. In past centuries, this was often someone who lived in your community and who you might have even known personally. But through the rise of globalized distribution systems, we have become increasingly alienated from the people who make our food. This leaves a lot of room for exploitation and abuse, both of which are rampant in the food industry. Here, we will look at how the mango industry fares in relation to these ethical questions.

How ethical & sustainable are the social and economic conditions of growing mangoes?

• Are farmers paid fair wages to grow mangoes: There have been reports of workers in Peru making the minimum wage of around $180 USD per month (equivalent). Since the cost of living in Peru is estimated at upwards of $470 USD per month, this is a very low wage. If you have bought Peruvian mangoes, you have likely bought mangoes picked by people making this low wage. 
• How safe are the working conditions to grow mangoes: Mango farmers in India have reported dangerously long shifts as high as 17 hours a day. Scientists have found that working shifts any longer than 10 hours creates significantly higher risks of hazards like cardiovascular disease and working weeks longer than 60 hours per week creates higher rates of workplace injury. 
• Are there reports of child or forced labor to grow mangoes: There have been significant reports of forced labor in India’s mango industry. Some of these reports indicate that children have been involved in this forced labor. In India, an estimated 18 million people live under modern slavery in some form. 
• What is the wider economic impact on the communities that grow mangoes: Conditions on mango farms vary, with Indian mango farms facing accusations of intimidation of workers and indentured servitude keeping workers effectively enslaved for years. In Peru, the seasonal structure of the mango industry means that workers have more unstable income. Peruvian workers have also alleged that they have been intimidated when trying to form unions. 

In short, the mango industry’s participation in forced and child labor (in India) as well as low wages and unstable employment (in Peru) mean their working conditions are very unethical. 

How Ethical & Sustainable Are the Seasonality for Mangoes

Mangoes’ seasonality is between May and August, give or take. Outside of this season, they are typically imported from Mexico, Peru, or Ecuador. 

Every fruit has a natural season in which they grow, usually lasting a couple of months, which can range depending on the region. However, international demand for every kind of fruit is year-round. This demand is often met by importing fruits from tropical places which can grow year-round, or by growing them in greenhouses. Both of these methods use more resources and are thus less sustainable than conventional farming. Here, we will look at how the mango industry accommodates year-round demand.

How ethical & sustainable is it to grow mangoes in-season vs out-of-season?

• When is the natural season for growing and harvesting mangoes: Mangoes are in-season in the mainland US from around May until August, depending on the state. This means that during the summer months, you can find mangoes that grow in the US, but outside of this time, they are likely going to be imported. This means that mangoes are significantly more sustainable to eat in the summer. 
• How are mangoes naturally grown in-season: Mangoes grow on trees, which take around 5-8 years before they can bear fruit. Most US mangoes are grown in Florida and California. If you buy US-grown mangoes in the summer, they will most likely be coming from within these states. 
• How are mangoes grown out-of-season: Out of season mangoes are typically imported, with most of those imports coming from Mexico. Peru and Ecuador are also major exporters to the US, with India being the biggest producer in the world.

In short, mangoes’ sustainability is significantly dependent on the time of year you buy them, being much more sustainable in the summer. 

How Ethical & Sustainable Are the Land Requirements for Mangoes

Mangoes have a low land yield of around 5–22 tons per hectare. They also use monoculture farming practices which cause deforestation. Mangoes also have a longer than average growth duration so, they require a lot of resources to grow. 

The growth stage has a major impact on fruits’ sustainability. The amount of land used, especially in relation to its expansion, the method with which they are grown, and their effect on surrounding land and wildlife are all important factors. In this section, we will look at the ways in which mangoes’ land usage affects their sustainability.

How ethical & sustainable are the land requirements for growing mangoes?

• What is the land usage of mangoes: Mangoes yield around 5–22 tons per hectare. This is on the lower end of average for fruits, with bananas yielding up to 100 tons per hectare. This less economical yield means that each mango needs more square footage than the average fruit. Furthermore, many parts of the world have seen significant deforestation due to mango farming. For example, Cambodia has allowed mango farmers to take over massive amounts of land, of which they often take more than they are allowed. 
• Where and how are mangoes grown: Most mangoes grow in India. Because mangoes grow on trees, they have natural carbon-storing qualities, which offset some of the carbon emissions of mango production. This is very good news for their sustainability. 
• Are mangoes grown in monocultures or Polycultures: Mangoes typically grow in monocultures. Monocultures are large groups of the same plant which lack biodiversity and thus are bad for wildlife and soil microbes. So, while they can sequester carbon, their use of monocultures makes them less sustainable. 
• How does the growing of mangoes affect soil fertility and erosion: Mango trees are actually highly effective at preventing soil erosion. As a result, they are very sustainable from this viewpoint. 
• How does the mango industry affect the loss of habitable land: Mangoes aren’t very densely planted, meaning that their farming can use and harm a lot of land. However, this is changing. Indian farmers are adopting a sustainable technique known as the “ultra high-density planting method”, which helps to minimize water and land requirements for mangoes. 
• How does the mango industry affect wildlife and biodiversity: Cambodia has had a booming mango industry in recent years, mainly because of import demand from China. However, this means that Cambodian wildlife are being threatened with habitat loss due to deforestation from this fast-growing industry.

In short, the fact that mangoes grow in monocultures, have a low land yield, and contribute to deforestation mean they are moderately unsustainable at this stage. 

How Ethical & Sustainable Is the Water Footprint of Mangoes

Mangoes have a moderate water footprint of 26–52 inches per year. Their irrigation requirements mean that they are only minimally unsustainable at this stage. 

Water usage is one of the most important factors in a fruit’s sustainability. Practices like irrigation use significant resources and can cause pollution, and as such, factors like the amount of water used, where it is sourced, as well as the way they affect the water sources around them, are all important. Here, we will look at these different angles of mangoes’ water footprint.

How ethical & sustainable is the water footprint of growing mangoes?

• What is the overall water usage of mangoes: Mangoes need around 26–52 inches per year. This is an average water requirement relative to other fruits. However, they are generally grown in Mexico which has a low rainfall. Therefore, mangoes require irrigation to meet their water needs. 
• What is the green water footprint of mangoes: The green water footprint is the amount of water from precipitation stored in the soil and used by plants for growth. Mangoes consumed in the US mainly come from Mexico. Mexico gets around 28 inches of rain per year. Because mangoes require more water than this, most rain in the region will be going towards mangoes. Thus, their green water footprint is fairly high.
• What is the blue water footprint of mangoes: The blue water footprint is the amount of water sourced from surface (such as rivers or lakes) or groundwater resources. Since Mexico only gets 28 inches of rain per year, which doesn’t quite cover mangoes’ 26–52 inch requirement, mangoes need significant irrigation. Irrigation is very unsustainable, due mainly to its high carbon footprint and modification of groundwater balance.
• What is the gray water footprint of mangoes: The gray water footprint is the amount of freshwater required to clean up water pollution to meet certain quality standards. Essentially, it’s the amount of water needed to make polluted water clean enough to be safe and healthy for humans and the environment. Mangoes have very minimal pesticide use. This means that they avoid the harm to groundwater, and thus additional water for cleanup, that pesticides can cause. For this reason, their gray water footprint is low. 
• How does the mango industry affect freshwater and ocean pollution: The mango industry has been found to have a significant impact on surface and groundwater, causing pollution with fertilizer use. 

In short, mangoes’ light pesticide usage mixed with their need for some irrigation means they are a little unsustainable at this stage. 

How Ethical & Sustainable Is the Agrochemical Usage for Mangoes

Mangoes’ agrochemical use is moderate. Their pesticide use is low, but their fertilizer use is high. In particular, their use of nitrogen fertilizer is very unsustainable. 

Pesticides and fertilizers are agrochemicals that are very unsustainable and damaging to ecosystems. This is because they require resources to create and can easily run off into groundwater and soil systems. Here, we will look at how sustainable mangoes’ pesticide and fertilizer rates really are.

How ethical & sustainable is the agrochemical usage of growing mangoes?

• What is the pesticide usage of mangoes: Mangoes have very low pesticide use amongst fruits. Thus, they avoid some of the unsustainable effects that pesticides can have.
• What is the fertilizer usage of mangoes: Mangoes are typically fertilized with a combination of phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. While potassium tends to be minimally harmful, nitrogen is actually very unsustainable.
• Are there any known issues connected to the agrochemical usage for mangoes: Mangoes’ use of nitrogen fertilizer has many known environmental issues. These include air pollution which can harm human health and affect plant growth. 

In short, mangoes’ use of nitrogen as a fertilizer is very unsustainable, despite their low pesticide use. 

How Ethical & Sustainable Is the Carbon Footprint of Mangoes

Mangoes have a carbon footprint of 0.21 kg (0.46 lbs) CO₂e per pound of mangoes. The main factors that contribute to this number are the mechanized production process, the usage of non-biodegradable/non-recyclable materials in packaging, and aviation transportation.

Carbon footprint is one aspect of the overall sustainability of a fruit. It essentially measures how much carbon or other greenhouse gasses the production of fruits emits into the atmosphere. Emissions from product manufacturing, irrigation, transportation fuel, and landfills all add up to create the overall carbon footprint of a fruit. Let’s see how the carbon footprint of mangoes contributes to their overall sustainability.

How ethical & sustainable is the carbon footprint of mangoes?

• What is the overall carbon footprint of mangoes: The overall carbon footprint of mangoes is 0.21 kg (0.46 lbs) CO₂e per pound of mangoes. This means that for every pound of mangoes produced, 0.21kg of carbon is emitted into the atmosphere. This is a below-average carbon footprint amongst fruits. 
• What are the main contributors to the carbon footprint of mangoes: The main factors that contribute to mangoes’ carbon footprint are aviation transport, styrofoam packaging, and energy-consuming processing. Besides these factors, the growth practices are actually fairly carbon-conscious.
• Which life-cycle stage of mangoes has the highest carbon footprint: The life cycle stage that contributes the most to mangoes’ carbon footprint is transportation. This is because, despite being grown in North America, they are typically transported by air. 

In short, mangoes have a fairly small carbon footprint amongst fruits, despite their use of air transport and styrofoam packaging. 

Related: Check out our full article on “What Is the Carbon Footprint of Mangoes? A Life-Cycle Analysis” to find out all about the carbon footprint of mangoes and how each stage of their life-cycle contributes to it (plus, what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint when shopping for mangoes).

How Ethical & Sustainable Is the Waste Generation of Mangoes

Mangoes’ waste generation is fairly high. This is because they use styrofoam packaging, which has a low recycling rate. 

When fruit waste, either in the form of packaging or organic materials, is disposed of, it can cause a lot of problems. Whether it’s damaging wildlife, getting into oceans, emitting methane, or dissolving into microplastics that contaminate groundwater, all these materials have their part to play. The sheer amount of waste we produce is reaching a crisis point and won’t be able to continue much longer. In this section, we will look at how sustainable mangoes’ waste generation is.

How ethical & sustainable is the waste generation of mangoes?

• What is the packaging of mangoes: Mangoes use several different types of packaging, such as cardboard boxes, straw, wool, and styrofoam. Cardboard contributes to deforestation, as does wool. Whereas styrofoam emits a large amount of carbon during manufacturing. All these types of packaging are very unsustainable during their production. 
• How is the packaging of mangoes disposed of: Many of the materials used in packaging can be recycled, but have different recycling rates. Cardboard has a high recycling rate at 89%, whereas styrofoam has an extremely low recycling rate at around 11%. Therefore, most mango packaging tends to end up in landfills. Landfills are unsustainable in a number of ways, including carbon emissions, soil pollution, and harm to wildlife. 
• How are mangoes disposed of: Mango skins and pits are generally not eaten. They can be composted, but given the very low composting rates of 4%, they typically aren’t. This means that most organic mango waste ends up in landfills. Besides the generally unsustainable qualities of landfills, food waste is especially harmful because it generates methane, a greenhouse gas. 

In short, the use of packaging materials like cardboard and styrofoam, as well as low composting rates, mean mangoes are very unsustainable in terms of waste. 

What Have Been Historical Ethics & Sustainability Issues Connected to the Mango Industry

Mangoes have partaken in some farming practices that have harmed the environment and people a lot over the years. These include wage theft, deforestation, and groundwater pollution from nitrogen fertilizer. 

All fruits have had a complex road toward global distribution. They originate in one part of the world and often travel far to end up in your local supermarket. From farm to table, some of our favorite fruits have used unsustainable practices. Whether it’s exploiting labor, deforestation to meet demand, water pollution, or disruption of wildlife, most fruits have left a path of destruction. Many of these effects are still felt today or have even increased. Let’s see how mangoes have fared throughout history.

What have been the key ethical & sustainable issues of the mango industry?

• Has labor been exploited because of mangoes production: The mango industry in various countries has been accused of labor exploitation in the past. One such case was a mango farmer who employed backpackers and allegedly withheld over $36,000 USD worth of wages from them, paying some employees as little as $2 an hour. Cases like these show that there is room for exploitation within the mango industry. 
• How much land has been lost because of mango production: The mango industry has used a significant amount of land to produce mangoes, which has caused deforestation. However, mangoes can also have a positive impact in this department. Mango trees are frequently cited as a leading tree in the fight against deforestation. 
• Which wildlife species have been negatively impacted or displaced because of mango production: Mangoes’ use of harmful fertilizers like nitrogen have been very harmful to animals. Land clearing to create mango farms has also contributed to global deforestation. 
• Have water sources and soil been contaminated because of mango production: Groundwater sources are greatly affected by any pesticides and fertilizer use, especially nitrogen. Through these chemicals, mango farms have impacted water sources all over the world. 

In short, the mango industry has a long history of unethical and unsustainable behavior, mainly through things like wage theft, as well as their use of nitrogen fertilizer and high land requirements. 

How Can You Reduce Your Environmental Impact and Offset Your Personal Carbon Footprint

There are a few things you can do to make your mango consumption more ethical and sustainable, while still enjoying them. You can also consider offsetting your personal and mango-related carbon emissions, which work to remove carbon emissions elsewhere that are then attributed to you. Here, we will walk you through how to accomplish both of these things.

How Can You Shop for Mangoes More Ethically & Sustainably

In this section, we give you a short list of ways you can consume mangoes in a more sustainable way. This list is designed to target the most unsustainable parts of mangoes’ life-cycle:

1. Avoid Indian mangoes: Although Peru does have some unethical practices, India is one of the worst offenders when it comes to unethical treatment of workers. If you want to avoid extreme exploitation like forced and child labor, it is best to avoid buying mangoes from India, where these practices are far more widespread. 
2. Buy in-season mangoes: If you buy mangoes between the months of May and August, there is a much higher likelihood that they will be coming from within the US, which is much more sustainable. Cut down on transport emissions by buying your mangoes in-season. 
3. Compost and recycle: Another major contributor to mangoes’ unsustainability is improper waste disposal. Make sure that you compost all organic waste and recycle all paper waste to prevent them from ending up in landfills. If you don’t have a government-run composting or recycling program in your area, consider making your own compost and using cardboard waste as roughage.

Following some of these methods can really help you to make your mango-eating more sustainable. None of these will completely eradicate the negative impacts, since there are always effects that may be outside of your control. But some reduction is always better than nothing!

Which Organizations Can You Support to Help Promote Ethics & Sustainability

While mango production engages in some very unsustainable practices, there are also some organizations that help you change the parts of these processes that would otherwise be outside of your control. These organizations are working hard to prevent and reverse damage to the environment caused by industries like mango agriculture, towards a more sustainable future.

In the table below are some of the best charities that work in the areas where mango production are very unsustainable—and beyond:

Overall ethics & sustainability	Best charities that advance ethics worldwide Best charities that promote sustainability
Social and economic impact	Best charities that help farmers
Seasonality	Best charities that fight to protect our environment
Land requirements	Best charities for reforestation Best wildlife conservation charities Best charities for protecting the Amazon rainforest
Water footprint	Best charities that fight for clean water Best charities that help conserve our rivers Best charities to save our oceans
Agrochemical usage	Best charities for helping farm animals
Carbon footprint	Best charities for climate change Best carbon offsets for individuals
Waste generation	Best charities that fight to reduce food waste Best charities that fight to end plastic pollution Best charities that promote recycling

Though it is helpful to boost the sustainability of your personal mango consumption, supporting these organizations takes your positive impact a step further. You will be reaching far beyond your own consumption impacts and helping to build a better world for everyone!

How Can You Offset Your Personal Carbon Footprint

The carbon footprint is a key part of how sustainable we live. And it is one of the ways we measure the effects of our human-induced global climate change. Yes, even from eating mangoes!

“Carbon footprint: the amount of greenhouse gasses and specifically carbon dioxide emitted by something (such as a person’s activities or a product’s manufacture and transport) during a given period”

Merriam Webster

Basically, it is the amount of carbon emitted by you as an individual or an organization providing you with goods and services – including mangoes:

• This includes GHG emissions from producing the products that we use and foods that we eat (e.g., power plants, factories or farms, and landfills)
• GHG emissions from fuel that we burn directly or indirectly (e.g., logistics and transportation, cooling or heating facilities),
• as well as the GHG emissions attributed to how we consume these products and foods.

Carbon offsets are reductions in carbon emissions that are used to compensate for carbon emissions occurring elsewhere – for example for the carbon emissions that are associated with mangoes. They are measured in tons of CO₂ equivalents and are bought and sold through international brokers, online retailers, and trading platforms on what is known as the global carbon offset market. 

“Carbon Offset: a way for a company or person to reduce the level of carbon dioxide for which they are responsible by paying money to a company that works to reduce the total amount produced in the world, for example by planting trees”

Oxford Dictionary

In terms of mangoes – and indeed all food types – there will always be a carbon footprint, because of the resources it takes to get your food from farms to the place where you’ll eventually eat them. And while there are ways to reduce your carbon footprint when shopping for mangoes, carbon offsets would be a way to reduce your CO₂e emissions all the way down to net zero (or even to become climate positive).

However, when you purchase carbon offsets, it’s important that they actually make a difference in offsetting (aka reducing) total carbon emissions. To achieve that, the following are key criteria:

• Carbon offset projects have to be effective (different projects have different effectiveness rates)
• Carbon offset projects have to be additional
• Carbon offset projects have to be permanent
• The claims from carbon offset projects have to be verifiable

To find the best carbon offsets for you personally, check out our full guide on the best carbon offsets for individuals, where you’ll also learn more about how these carbon offset projects work, what their respective offsetting costs are, and what your best way would be to offset your own carbon emissions.

Final Thoughts

Mangoes have a long way to go before they’re a truly ethical and sustainable fruit. They engage in some truly horrific labor practices in India, including child and forced labor. Furthermore, they use monoculture farming, styrofoam packaging, and harmful nitrogen fertilizer. However, the good news is that you can do your part by supporting ethical mango farms, recycling or avoiding packaging, and composting organic waste, to help make mangoes more ethical and sustainable. You can also support organizations that promote a positive impact on a global scale!

Stay impactful,

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• Impactful Ninja: What Is the Carbon Footprint of Mangoes
• TRVST: Environmental Impact of Cardboard
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