Fairtrade Coffee

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© Fairtrade 2011

MONITORING THE SCOPE AND BENEFITS

OF FAIRTRADE

THIRD EDITION, 2011

Coffee

Coffee is big business and remains one of the most valuable primary products in world trade.

However, for many of the world’s 25 million coffee farmers, coffee is a labour intensive crop that frequently yields small financial returns.

More than 70 percent of all coffee farmers are smallholders working on plots smaller than 10 hectares in developing countries.

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Benefits of Fairtrade for coffee farmers

Fairtrade certification ensures that coffee farmers are treated more fairly. We encourage long-term trade deals, ensure a Minimum Price when markets are low, and a social Premium for community investment. Democratically-elected Fairtrade committees determine how best to use the Fairtrade Premium to benefit their communities.

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The Fairtrade Standards for coffee

• The international Fairtrade Standards differproduct to product based on the situationconfronted by producers. In coffee the standardsonly apply to small producer organizations.

• With small producers representing the grandmajority of production in the coffee sector aroundthe globe, a focus on building sustainablecooperatives and associations of small producershelps groups plan for the future.

• For more info on the Fairtrade Standards, visitwww.fairtrade.net/standards.html

Borunsya Agenina,farm workerat Ankole CoffeeProducersCooperative UnionLtd in Bushenyi, Uganda.

Due to the four years it takes a coffee plant to yield fruit, it is difficult for farmers to respond quickly to the fluctuating markets.

Due to the increasing impacts of climate change many farmers are using the Fairtrade Premium to help put adaptation and mitigation plans into effect.

One example of these projects is planting cover crops to prevent soil erosion and provide an additional food crop.

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All information contained in this presentation and more can be found in the full report, “Monitoring the Scope and Benefits of Fairtrade” (PDF) at Fairtrade International, the global association of Fairtrade organizations , at www.fairtrade.net.

To find out about Fairtrade in the USA, visit www.fairtrade.net/usa.