Fairtrade can play a leading role in meeting MDG's
The Fairtrade Foundation regards the achievement of the MDGs as a moral responsibility and expects the UK government to continue to play a leading role on the world stage to keep up momentum and ensure that all countries meet their commitments. The rapid growth of Fairtrade sales in the UK over the last ten years demonstrates that there is a public appetite for practical actions that are seen to be effective in helping to address global poverty. With nearly 500 Fairtrade towns, hundreds of Fairtrade schools and thousands of Fairtrade churches in the UK, Fairtrade is clearly a route to motivating and enthusing people about development.
We believe that Fairtrade can contribute to the achievement of the MDGs in a variety of different ways. The increased income levels, and income security, provided by Fairtrade helps to ensure that producers are less vulnerable to increases in food prices.
The Small Organic Farmers’ Association (SOFA) in Sri Lanka, whose 2,000 organic-certified farmers produce Fairtrade tea and spices, reports that food prices have risen. But SOFA’s farmers receive a Fairtrade organic tea price that is 20%-30% above their cost of production, meaning increased income for families and improved investment in their farming plots.
Fairtrade social premiums (an additional payment, provided on top of the guaranteed floor price for goods) have been used, at the local community level, to invest in a wide variety of projects, including education, health and environmental improvement.
Examples of how the Fairtrade system has contributed to each of the MDGs are provided on the Fairtrade foundation website:
http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved/the_millennium_development_goals/default.aspx
Elod Kafaukoma is a sugar cane farmer from Kasinthula, Malawi and has been sharing his thoughts in an online blog on how Fairtrade has helped to contribute to the MDGs in his area
http://thefairtradefoundation.blogspot.com/
Elod writes:
(Entering) this Fairtrade market has drastically transformed the surrounding community through implementation of development projects like hospital, primary school; bore holes with safe and clean water, electrification and covering school costs.
But Fairtrade is more than simply a way of providing finance towards the MDGs.
Michael Nkonu, Director of Fairtrade Africa points out that:
‘Fairtrade is helping to address the various MDGs in very practical ways but, it also provides a practical demonstration of how markets and trading systems can be changed to become more pro-poor and ensure that poor producers in developing countries are empowered to take control of the MDG targets at their own local level’
- ENDS –
For more information please contact Faith Mall, Media & PR Manager at the Fairtrade Foundation, on 0207 440 8597 or Eileen Maybin on 0207 440 7686.
Faith Mall
Media and PR Manager
020 7440 8597/07766 504 947
faith.mall@fairtrade.org.uk
Eileen Maybin
Head of Media
020 7440 7686 07770 957 451
eileen.maybin@fairtrade.org.uk
Martine Julseth
Media and PR Manager
020 7440 7695/07825 827 791
martine.julseth@fairtrade.org.uk
Neil Martin
Assistant Press Officer
020 7440 7620
neil.martin@fairtrade.org.uk
Notes to Editors
1. The FAIRTRADE Mark is a certification mark and a registered trademark of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) of which the Fairtrade Foundation is the UK member. The Fairtrade Foundation is an independent certification body which licenses the use of the FAIRTRADE Mark on products which meet international Fairtrade standards. This independent consumer label is now recognised by 72% of UK consumers and appears on products as a guarantee that disadvantaged producers are getting a better deal. Today, more than 7.5 million people – farmers, workers and their families – across 58 developing countries benefit from the international Fairtrade system.
2. Over 4,500 products have been licensed to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark including coffee, tea, herbal teas, chocolate, cocoa, sugar, bananas, grapes, pineapples, mangoes, avocados, apples, pears, plums, grapefruit, lemons, oranges, satsumas, clementines, mandarins, lychees, coconuts, dried fruit, juices, smoothies, biscuits, cakes & snacks, honey, jams & preserves, chutney & sauces, rice, quinoa, herbs & spices, seeds, nuts & nut oil, wines, beers, rum, confectionary, muesli, cereal bars, yoghurt, ice-cream, flowers, sports balls, sugar body scrub and cotton products including clothing, homeware, cloth toys, cotton wool and olive oil.
3. 7 in 10 households purchase Fairtrade goods,, helping Fairtrade sales reach an estimated £800m in 2009, up from £712m in 2008. There are over 460 producer organisations selling to the UK with 872 certified producer groups in the global Fairtrade system, representing more than 1.5 million farmers and workers.