Fairtrade is a worldwide movement and is represented in the UK by the Fairtrade Foundation. The Fairtrade Foundation works alongside farmers and workers towards a world in which trade is based on fairness so that producers can earn secure and sustainable livelihoods. It also helps to set social, economic, and environmental standards for the companies and farmers involved in the global supply chain. This manifests as the protection of workers’ rights and the environment, and for larger companies, this includes the payment of the Fairtrade Minimum Price safety net. This safety net means that farmers as less vulnerable to price volatility, resulting in a better case flow, greater access to credit, and the ability to save more easily.
There are currently around 1,880 Fairtrade certified producer organisations in 71 countries working with the Fairtrade Foundation. Fairtrade is also focused on issues which matter to workers and farmers, such as helping Bolivian coffee farmers tackling plant diseases linked to climate change, and cocoa-growing communities in Cote d’Ivoire creating the Women’s School of Leadership.
Only 17% of farmers they represent are women, and they have stated that this is an area they wish to improve on in the future
Despite all the excellent work the Fairtrade Foundation has done since its formation in 1992, they recognise that there is still a long way to go. Currently, only 17% of farmers they represent are women, and they have stated that this is an area they wish to improve on in the future. Fairtrade is an opportunity for everyone to envision a world where trade helps support small-scale farmers and producers, and their families, cultivating sustainable communities across the globe.
