More about Fairtrade
1. Introduction
2. Investment in sustainability
3. How does Fairtrade benefit farmers?
4. The Environmental Standards
5. What about food miles?
6. Social organisation, democracy and community resilience
7. Equity and social stability
8. Spreading the Word: Fairtrade Towns, Fairtrade Schools, Colleges and Universities and Fairtrade Places of Worship
9. Conclusion
1. Introduction
‘There is plenty of evidence to demonstrate that Fairtrade provides a positive contribution to building up global equity and also has a role to play in directly supporting adaptation to climate change by small farmers in countries of the global South’[i]
The Fairtrade movement is an international partnership between producers and consumers with the aim not only of benefiting producers in the developing world but also of ensuring better management of our global environment. By actively supporting Fairtrade, we are supporting a social, economic and environmental system that will help mitigate some of the effects of peak oil and climate change.
The Fairtrade movement is an international partnership between producers and consumers with the aim not only of benefiting producers in the developing world but also of ensuring better management of our global environment. By actively supporting Fairtrade, we are supporting a social, economic and environmental system that will help mitigate some of the effects of peak oil and climate change.
“Fairtrade isn’t just about helping farmers in poor countries; by helping to protect forests, fields and rivers it helps us all to respond to climate change. We have had to change the way we grow and process coffee to meet Fairtrade standards, and have learnt about more sustainable production methods this way."
Gerardo Camacho, coffee farmer, Costa Rica Photo: Eduardo Martino |
2. Investment in Sustainability
Most Fairtrade producers are small-scale farmers in the developing world[i], and small farmers manage a large share of the world’s water and vegetation cover. There is evidence to show that small farms are more sustainable than large-scale farms, reducing soil erosion, using water more efficiently, increasing biodiversity and preserving soil fertility. There is also considerable evidence to suggest that small, integrated farming systems yield more per hectare in the long-term than large-scale monoculture farms.
Yet small farmers are the least able to adapt to climate change. Those that depend on export crops generally do not have the capital to change to food crops for the local market (which are often not sustainable anyway because of cheap subsidised imports from the US and Europe). They are therefore particularly vulnerable to price fluctuations on the international market.
When commodity prices are low, it is the small farmers that are hit the hardest. Fairtrade protects small-scale farmers by offering them better access to markets and improved trade conditions.
Yet small farmers are the least able to adapt to climate change. Those that depend on export crops generally do not have the capital to change to food crops for the local market (which are often not sustainable anyway because of cheap subsidised imports from the US and Europe). They are therefore particularly vulnerable to price fluctuations on the international market.
When commodity prices are low, it is the small farmers that are hit the hardest. Fairtrade protects small-scale farmers by offering them better access to markets and improved trade conditions.
"The great thing about Fairtrade is that it enables cocoa farmers like me to have a say in shaping our future through talking and working directly with retailers and companies. Through the pricing structure and the Fairtrade premium we will be able to invest in both our business and our community to ensure a brighter future for our family, other farmers and our friends."
Santos Mendoza, cocoa co-operative, Dominican Republic Photo: Simon Rawles |
3. How does Fairtrade benefit farmers?
With Fairtrade, the buyer, whether a specialised Fairtrade company like Café Direct or a supermarket chain like Sainsbury’s, has to pay at least an agreed minimum price that covers the cost of sustainable production when market prices are low, and the full market price when they are high .
The buyer is also required to pay a premium for community development. This premium is often used to improve health and education (the children of Fairtrade producer families must be able to attend school) and to provide facilities for the community.
The buyer is also required to pay a premium for community development. This premium is often used to improve health and education (the children of Fairtrade producer families must be able to attend school) and to provide facilities for the community.
“The premium helps us a lot with the costs families face and improves the lives of all our members in some way. It means that children who weren’t able to study before because of costs can now go to school and get the education they need to make progress in life”.
Nana Diassome Mimouna Yago, shea butter producer, Burkina Faso Photo: Cindy D’Auteuil |
As well as a guaranteed price and a Fairtrade premium, buyers have to provide other benefits, such as contracts that allow for long-term planning and access to credit, all of which help to increase self-reliance for the farming communities.
“Now we produce coffee knowing we will get a fair price and a stable price, fixed for the season. We can then work out what our income will be and plan for the coming year, for school fees and all our necessities. I feel relaxed and comfortable that I can budget for my family’s needs."
Oliva Kishero, coffee farmer, Uganda Photo: Simon Rawles |
Some Fairtrade products are grown on larger estates, but the Social and Economic Standards guarantee workers the right to their own independent organisations, and strict criteria regarding wages, working conditions, discriminatory practices and child labour. Democratically run ‘Joint Bodies’ (workers and management) decide how the Fairtrade premium is spent. In some cases, Fairtrade can work with national government initiatives to give greater empowerment to workers.
“In South Africa, there is a compelling need to empower disadvantaged workers. The extra resources that Fairtrade delivers, and the underpinning of Fairtrade standards with the national programme to encourage black economic empowerment, can contribute to that process”.
Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, Fairtrade Foundation.
Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, Fairtrade Foundation.
4. Environmental Standards
The environmentalcriteria within the Fairtrade Standards are intended to ensure that environmental protection is made an integral part of farm management. There are clear rules relating to the use of chemicals, disposal of waste, and protection of natural resources. Genetically modified organisms are prohibited and producer organisations are required to work gradually towards more organic practices.
The Fairtrade Premium is often the means whereby these communities can invest in an environmentally sustainable future. This may mean introducing diversity to prevent their reliance on a single crop, or introducing organic and energy-saving methods of production.
5. What about food miles?
Many ethical consumers have thought twice about buying Fairtrade products because of the ‘food miles’ used in transporting them. However, the vast majority of products cannot be grown locally and, for historical reasons, many poor farmers now depend on exporting their products for their livelihoods. However, practically all Fairtrade products are transported by ship, which has the lowest per tonne impact of any mode of transport. Only Fairtrade flowers are regularly flown to the UK, and flowers grown in Europe can use more energy than flowers grown in developing countries, even after taking transport into account. This is because a product’s carbon footprint may have more to do with the way it is produced than how it is transported (An analysis of food products in the US showed that 89% of total emissions were associated with production, and only 11% with transport).
6. Social organisation and community resilience
‘Increasing evidence shows that Fairtrade can have a positive impact, both because Fairtrade organisations prioritise environmental sustainability, and also because the Fairtrade movement strengthens communities so that they can tackle their own social, economic and environmental problems.’
Fairtrade requires small-scale farmers to organise themselves into co-operatives which, as well as benefiting them economically, also has important social benefits for the community.
Fairtrade requires small-scale farmers to organise themselves into co-operatives which, as well as benefiting them economically, also has important social benefits for the community.
“Fairtrade has had a huge impact on me and our communities in many ways. Beginning with improving the standard of living, changing the mind-set of little or no regard for the environment, bringing people of common objectives together, empowering producers and communities, and the list goes on..”
Cornelius Lynch, banana co-operative, St. Lucia Photo: Simon Rawles |
The co-operatives have had a particularly important role in empowering women within the community.
“In the past, men would take all decisions to do with the village, without consulting their wives. Now women are represented in the co-operative, we have a voice and we are listened to. We discuss with men any development projects that will affect the village. We have input and this has had a huge difference on our lives.”
Bintou Dambile, Cotton farmer, Mali Photo: Simon Rawles |
Communities are strengthened by being able to discuss their problems together and the collective decision-making process allows them to find solutions to deal with the global issues that affect them.
“I’m positive about the future. Things are improving for us because we’re learning about production and costs; we’re working with other co-operatives, which strengthens our values and self-esteem. All of this means we’re now in the position to strengthen our organisation.”
Elvira Camilla Yatto Deviscara, brazil nut co-operative, Peru Photo: Eduardo Martino |
“Fairtrade is empowering people to manage their own affairs – the development of human capacity that is so vital for the future.”
Amos Wiltshire, National Fairtrade Co-ordinator for Dominica, Winward Islands
7. Equity, economic and social stability
‘Whilst ‘equity’ is an acknowledged part of the climate change agenda, it is too often seen as a desirable aspect of the global response to climate change, rather than critical. A response to climate change that is not seen to be fair is not only morally inappropriate but is likely to prove politically unsustainable’.
The Transition Town movement highlights the need for greater community resilience in order to preserve economic and social stability in the face of climate change. Small farmers, who make up a large percentage of our global population, play a major role in terms of social stability. They tend to spend their income on local goods and services and are more likely to employ local people, helping to prevent urban migration and the explosive growth of city slums.
Yet the catastrophic changes that are likely to be brought about by climate change will affect the poor farmers first and they will suffer the most devastating effects, threatening the food supply and leading to greater rural and urban unrest. Fairtrade allows farmers to plan ahead and adapt to the changes they need to make in their methods of production as well as to the changes in consumer habits that will inevitably follow. Supporting Fairtrade is not only a moral imperative but also one of the ways to protect social stability in the face of climate change.
The Transition Town movement highlights the need for greater community resilience in order to preserve economic and social stability in the face of climate change. Small farmers, who make up a large percentage of our global population, play a major role in terms of social stability. They tend to spend their income on local goods and services and are more likely to employ local people, helping to prevent urban migration and the explosive growth of city slums.
Yet the catastrophic changes that are likely to be brought about by climate change will affect the poor farmers first and they will suffer the most devastating effects, threatening the food supply and leading to greater rural and urban unrest. Fairtrade allows farmers to plan ahead and adapt to the changes they need to make in their methods of production as well as to the changes in consumer habits that will inevitably follow. Supporting Fairtrade is not only a moral imperative but also one of the ways to protect social stability in the face of climate change.
8. Spreading the Word
Communication and education are at the heart of the Fairtrade movement. In the UK the Fairtrade Foundation[i] is responsible not only for certifying that a product can be sold with the Fairtrade Mark but also for raising public awareness through its press and publicity work, its campaigning (particularly during Fairtrade Fortnight) and through encouraging and supporting community organisations within towns, educational establishments and places of worship.
‘The Fairtrade Towns movement is vital, and is making a huge difference. It is a grass roots social movement and together with the producer forms the beating heart of changing the world trading system’.
Harriet Lamb, Chief Executive Officer, Fairtrade Foundation
Harriet Lamb, Chief Executive Officer, Fairtrade Foundation
In April 2000, Garstang in Lancashire declared itself ‘The World’s First Fairtrade Town’. There are now over 500 Fairtrade Towns as well as many more areas campaigning towards status in the UK. This has inspired other countries to follow suit and there are now Fairtrade Towns in 19 countries, and a total of 1,000 Fairtrade Towns around the world. A Fairtrade Town can be a town, city, village, county, zone, island or borough that has made a commitment to supporting Fairtrade by achieving five goals.
(www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved/campaigns/fairtrade_towns). |
The Fairtrade Schools scheme was set up in 2007 and there are currently 4,812 schools working towards Fairtrade School status in the UK alone. A Fairtrade School also has five goals, which include teaching and learning about the issues surrounding Fairtrade, across a range of subject areas. Many schools are working simultaneously for Fairtrade and Eco-School status, recognising the many similarities between the goals.
(www.fairtrade.org.uk/schools). |
There are also colleges and universities, churches, synagogues and other faith groups, all working towards attaining their relevant goals to achieve Fairtrade status. (www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved/campaigns)
9. Conclusion
"Our task must be to widen our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."
Albert Einstein
This quote, used in the Transition Initiatives Primer, sums up the case for incorporating Fairtrade campaigning as an integral part of the Transition Towns movement. To advocate giving up all imported products for the sake of reducing food miles would be to punish poor farmers in the developing world, who are among the least responsible for the energy crisis, thus putting at risk the peace and stability we are striving to achieve. There is a thriving Fairtrade movement whose aim is to increase sustainable development and resilience to climate change. We believe the Transition Towns movement should embrace some of their aims, both by encouraging the use and sale of Fairtrade products in local businesses, and by incorporating the Fairtrade message in our communications and education work in the community.
If you would like to join the project group on Fairtrade, please contact hello@crystalpalacetransition.org
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1 Quotes in bold from Egalité, Fraternité, Sustainabilité, a Fairtrade Foundation Discussion Paper, Oct 2009
2 The majority of Fairtrade producers are small-scale farmers, although Fairtrade also supports workers on some farming estates and, more recently, artisanal mining communities
3 The Fairtrade Foundation (www.fairtrade.org.uk) has four key areas of activity:
Providing an independent certification of the trade chain, licensing use of the FAIRTRADE Mark as a consumer guarantee on products
Facilitating the market to grow demand for Fairtrade and enable producers to sell to traders and retailers
Working with partners to support producer organisations and their networks
Raising public awareness of the need for Fairtrade and the importance of the FAIRTRADE Mark