Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The second way that fair trade is able to enhance environmental stewardship lies in its
trade conditions. Fair trade goes beyond many other (often more rigorous) eco-
certi
nancial and organizational resources
to uphold environmental standards (Raynolds et al., 2007a). While environmental stan-
dards may appear laudable on paper, if producers do not have the wherewithal to meet
them, they are unlikely to have a signi
fi
cations in ensuring that producers have the
fi
cant impact on the ground. Poverty tends to exac-
erbate environmental degradation as people eke out a living in whatever way they can. By
working to ensure that producers have a secure and livable income, fair trade reduces the
need of impoverished households in Africa to overexploit natural resources. By promot-
ing the organizational ability of producer groups, fair trade fosters collective capacity to
address environmental problems (Raynolds, 2000). The fair trade social premium is often
invested directly in environmental improvements. Indeed, in African cocoa and co
fi
ff
ee
sectors, fair trade premiums
orts,
stemming erosion and providing critical wildlife habitat (FLO-I, 2007f; Transfair USA,
2007b; 2007c).
The third major way that fair trade works to protect environmental resources is by sup-
porting the nascent rise of certi
fi
nance shade production systems and reforestation e
ff
ed organic production in Africa. Although the global
organic trade is booming, Africa currently trails other regions in supplying this dynamic
market (Raynolds, 2004; Willer and Yusse
fi
fi
, 2006). In total, Africa has only one million
acres of
ed organic
commodities and there is substantial opportunity for bolstering production given Africa's
historical reliance on low-input farming practices and limited agrochemical use (Parrott
et al., 2006).
Fair trade has proved critical in promoting certi
organic certi
fi
ed land. Twenty African countries export certi
fi
fi
ed organic production in Africa by
providing the informational, organizational and
nancial resources necessary for pro-
ducers to enter this demanding system. Although African producers may be farming in
near-organic conditions, certi
fi
cation is a complex and costly process (Barrett et al., 2001).
Fair trade networks help organizations bring their production practices into compliance
with rigorous organic standards, typically funding required improvements in areas such
as composting, terracing and bu
fi
er zone management.
Perhaps most importantly, fair trade capacity-building activities foster the administra-
tive structures needed to create the internal monitoring systems required to verify com-
pliance with organic certi
ff
cation standards. The fair trade social premium typically pays
the substantial costs of internal and external organic monitoring (Raynolds, in press). As
research in Africa suggests, without such external support few producers could a
fi
ff
ord
organic certi
ed organic products tend to
garner a premium in world markets, these prices are not guaranteed and have fallen
signi
fi
cation (Parrott et al., 2006). Although certi
fi
cantly over recent years due to increased global production (Raynolds, in press;
Willer and Yusse
fi
, 2006). In the face of eroding prices, fair trade's requirement that
buyers pay a premium for organic certi
fi
ed commodities - above and beyond the FLO
guaranteed price - has also proved critical.
8
In Ethiopia, for example, 11 Oromia co
fi
ee
cooperatives have joined fair trade networks and invested their social premiums in acquir-
ing organic certi
ff
cation, thereby gaining access to higher prices and fostering environ-
mental sustainability in this ecologically fragile region (Fairtrade Foundation, 2007;
FLO-I, 2007f).
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