By any stretch of the imagination – the SSN has achieved phenomenal results (see our other recent blog posts) for a project that set out to work towards the empowerment of smallholders and to increase their sustainability and livelihood chances. But the successful ingredients of the SSN are even more impressive when the tiny budget [...]
The LYF has now broadcast 27 weekly farmer radio programmes since Autumn 2011. The radio programmes are already demonstrating a significant impact. For example, smallholder farmers have already changed some of their practices in the cooperatives where the Farmer Field Listening Groups are operating – as a direct result of the SSN. The first 2-4 [...]
One of the biggest problems facing poor smallholders in developing countries is their lack of access to relevant, affordable and timely information on agri-business issues, especially in relation to export markets. This impacts on their ability to engage fairly within both local and global trade. At the same time, the challenges of climate change, food [...]
Great article from Chris Bacon, discussing the future of Fair Trade; and some real dialogue about Fair Trade choices http://www.foodfirst.org/sites/www.foodfirst.org/files/pdf/The_struggle_for_food_justice_in_Fair_Trade_2011-12.pdf
This interesting article explores the impact of the coffee industry at origin. Worth a read. http://coffeelands.crs.org/2012/01/2012-the-year-of-the-impact-at-origin-baseline/
With Fairtrade reaching 25 years, there is a growing debate about its future, its direction and its place in trade justice. This Guardian article provides an interesting insight to the issues and invites readers’ views http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2012/feb/01/fair-trade-ethical-debate-fairtrade?newsfeed=true
This short blog post brings in to focus the injustice that small farmers in Ethiopia still face – has anything really changed in the industry despite the efforts of the ethical trade movement and the exposure from Black Gold and others. We can make drive better trading practice but there has to be the will [...]
Here at the LYF we are really proud of the Oromo Coffee Company. With our Oromo colleagues and other supporters, we set the OCC and, although it’s still a struggle for everyone involved, it’s still going and growing. A truly unique and wonderful social enterprise. This article tells the story of the OCC and of [...]
This BBC Radio 4 programme examines worker co-ops in the UK and internationally and asks whether, in these tough times, with high levels of mistrust of business, co-ops are a better solution for the future. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0196tn9/In_Business_All_Together_Now/
Graphic showing Coffee Buying By Corporations The major Food Corporations – Sara Lee, Kraft, Nestle and Starbucks buy huge quantities of coffee each year. This graphic helps to put this in context and shows how much of it is (or is not) fair trade.
