Fairtrade International

Next week, Sophie Aujean, Fairtrade International’s Director of Global Advocacy, will be joining leaders across the coffee industry, to speak at the @WorldCoffeeAlliance’s World Coffee Innovation Summit London 2024, 16-17 October. 🍵🌱 We know that coffee farmers are undergoing extreme challenges on multiple fronts – climate change, skyrocketing production costs, low farmer incomes, an ageing farmer population, and – however well intentioned – pressure from new legislation is adding significant barriers to smallholder farmers being able to sell their product in these important markets, putting their livelihoods at risk. Sophie will be taking part in a roundtable event at the summit to explore the connected themes of food systems, agriculture, the impact of requirements on reporting and disclosure, their impacts on coffee producers and how to support their transition to sustainable agriculture practices. The summit will highlight the vital role of cross-industry partnerships and cover topics including the latest EU Deforestation Regulation update, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, regenerative agriculture, biodiversity and carbon credits, social impact of transparency and traceability solutions and digitalising and decarbonising global trade. We’d love to connect and get engage with you! https://lnkd.in/ezprnK9H

We take note of the European Commission’s proposal to provide companies with an additional year to meet the requirements of the EU Deforestation Regulation. While we initially welcomed that a key piece of legislation of the European Green Deal be implemented on time, we recognised and witnessed the critical challenges and market access risks that small-scale farmer organisations were facing to meet the 30 December 2024 deadline. Fairtrade does not want the EUDR to be diluted in any way. We believe in the objectives of the regulation to tackle deforestation and forest degradation by prohibiting products linked to deforestation on the EU market, however we continue to call for shared responsibility across supply chains when it comes to meeting these goals. That is why we will continue to drive productive and technical capacity building efforts within our supply chains so that our farmers and cooperatives are ready and able to provide the compliance requirements of our trade partners in the EU markets. We further call for the European Union (EU) to continuously engage and consult farmers and producers so that they are not excluded from the EU market due to a lack of resources. More: https://lnkd.in/eFTGtZmA #deforestation #EUDR #Fairtrade

Every year, Fairtrade producers compete to see who has the most delicious speciality coffee of the highest quality in our Golden Cup competition held in 10 different countries. Miguel Ángel Rivera, part of the COAQUIL co-operative in Honduras, was awarded the top prize for the best blended coffee lot earlier this year. Thanks to his sustainable practices, Miguel has already planted 50,000 trees in his forest nursey 🌱 “The forest nursery where 50,000 plants have been planted annually for the past three years, has helped alleviate some of the problems associated with climate change including the increased humidity that cause disease like rust fungus,” he said. “The nursery has created a virtuous cycle of improved productivity. Improving the filtered shade and biodiversity within the coffee plot, supports healthier soils, leading to more productive trees – which supports farmers to make investments in the production and processing systems required for delicious, high quality coffees.” Miguel also runs the Chapolas school, a Saturday school for children who want to learn all aspects of coffee, from tasting and quality control to the selection of seeds, management of nurseries, processing, roasting and barista skills. Read his story here: https://lnkd.in/e4JVGrHM Photo by Sean Hawkey

Because let’s face it - great coffee doesn’t just happen. It’s a labour of love and award-winning Fairtrade Coffee Producer, Adelmo Paz Alvarado, from Cafico in Honduras, knows this all too well. We shone the spotlight on three of our 2024 Golden Cup winners, including Adelmo, to understand what quality means to them. As one of the 2024 Golden Cup winners in Honduras, Adelmo represents the pinnacle of specialty coffee production – the highest grade of coffee you can get. ☕️ But what sets him and other Fairtrade producers apart is their dedication to quality and sustainability at every step. From handpicking the perfect seed to using eco-friendly techniques like agroforestry (think shade-giving trees, healthier soil, and more biodiversity 🌳), each coffee plant is nurtured with care and respect for the environment. 🌱 The Golden Cup is an annual competition, which sees Fairtrade producers compete for the most delicious speciality coffee of the highest quality. By choosing Fairtrade coffee, you’re supporting more than just a great cup of coffee. You're helping farmers build sustainable futures, helping farmers like Adelmo protect the planet, and ensure everyone along the supply chain gets a fair deal. 🌍✨ Sip with purpose today! #coffee #futureisfair #ICD2024 #sustainablefarming #choosefairtrade Video footage by Sean Hawkey. Video produced by Der Tisch - Communications & Design Studio for Fairtrade International.

Happy International Coffee Day to all coffee lovers out there! What’s the secret behind quality coffee that not only taste good, but does good? Fairtrade coffee is produced with great skill, care and attention by award-winning farmers who pour their hearts into every bean. Every sip you take is the result of their hard work and commitment to delivering top-quality, flavour-packed coffee that also supports people and the planet. We shone the spotlight on three of our 2024 Golden Cup winners to hear what each of them have to say about how they deliver quality in every cup. For professional coffee cupper, Mario Ernesto Paz, and Golden Cup winner from Cafico in Honduras, crafting the ideal blend is a true art form - dedication, passion, and a commitment to quality go into every bean, just like an artist creating a masterpiece. 🎨 What exactly is the Golden Cup? It’s Fairtrade’s annual competition, where coffee producers from 10 countries go head-to-head, showcasing the best specialty coffees – the highest quality of coffee – across aroma, flavour, and quality. Choose Fairtrade and support a future where every cup you drink helps build stronger, more sustainable communities. 🌱☕️ #futureisfair #ICD2024 #coffee #choosefairtrade Video footage by Sean Hawkey. Video produced by Der Tisch - Communications & Design Studio for Fairtrade International.

What is your favourite coffee variety? ☕ Fairtrade coffee brings you great variety without compromising on quality. Each variety of coffee offers a unique taste experience. Whether it’s a little sweeter, bolder, floral or fruitier. On the eve of International Coffee Day, we’re excited to shine the spotlight on three of our 2024 Golden Cup speciality coffee - the highest quality of coffee - winners to hear what each of them have to say about how they deliver quality in every cup. 2024 Golden Cup winner from Honduras Iris Lorena Perdomo from Cafés Especiales Corquín, variety is at the heart of producing quality coffee. For Iris, cultivating different coffee varieties isn’t just about flavour - it’s about preserving the rich heritage and biodiversity of their land. Every bean she grows is in harmony with nature, free from harmful chemicals and with deep respect for the environment and their community. These aren’t just coffee beans. They’re a story of sustainability, tradition, and exceptional quality - crafted by passionate hands. The Golden Cup competition celebrates this excellence and brings together Fairtrade-certified cooperatives to have their specialty coffees scored across various categories like aroma, flavour, and acidity, as well as judged on their production quality. So tomorrow on International Coffee Day, raise your cup to coffee that’s better for people and the planet. 🌍 #futureisfair #ICD2024 #coffee #choosefairtrade #sustainablefarming Video footage by Sean Hawkey. Video produced by Der Tisch - Communications & Design Studio for Fairtrade International.

🌱 Exciting Opportunity: Global Product Manager Cotton/Textile 🌱 We are on a mission to drive positive change in the cotton and textile industry! As part of Fairtrade International’s strategy, we are implementing a dedicated Cotton & Textiles strategy, led by a coalition of national Fairtrade organisations across the globe, including Fairtrade Deutschland, Max Havelaar France, The Fairtrade Foundation, Fairtrade Belgium, Fairtrade Sverige, Fairtrade Africa, and Fairtrade India. We’re looking for a Global Product Manager Cotton/Textile to spearhead this initiative, ensuring the development and implementation of our Cotton & Textile strategy. If you’re passionate about ethical sourcing, sustainable textiles, and making a global impact, this is your chance! 🌍 📅 Application Deadline: October 17, 2024 🔗 Learn more and apply here: http://fairtr.de/lcP #Fairtrade #Sustainability #EthicalSourcing #Cotton #SustainableTextiles #CareerOpportunity

This week, we had the incredible opportunity to welcome the #FairChangers to our Bonn (Germany) headquarters! 🎉 These passionate young men and women represent our commitment to supporting youth in shaping fair global supply chains. 🤝 The group consists of 10 dynamic young men and women—five from Germany and five from Kenya, both consumers and producers—who engage in a unique exchange program. Together, they are gaining valuable insights into each other's cultures, perspectives, and activities along fair global supply chains, fostering stronger global connections. 🌱 One member of the group is Brenda (26) from Kenya, a coffee farmer and proud member of the Kabngetuny Cooperative. This was her first time visiting Germany, and her experience has been eye-opening! 🙌 She described it as fantastic and said that being able to visit a roaster here in Germany and interact with Fairtrade Germany and Fairtrade International has given her first person connections and insights we would take back home. Brenda also shared how Fairtrade has transformed her farm through the Fairtrade Premium, the extra sum of money given to Fairtrade cooperatives that they democratically decide how to use, which helped her cooperative purchase solar dryers—making coffee drying more affordable, eco-friendly, and efficient. ☀️🌿 The #FairChangers program, launched in 2022 and funded by Fairtrade Deutschland and Fairtrade Africa, is a pilot project that truly embodies the power of global collaboration. Here’s to building a fairer, more sustainable future together! 🌍 #Fairtrade #Fairchanger #futureisfair #Sustainability Felix Ouma Lukas Zärtner Daniela Marina Hess Mercy C. EdMónd Maséga GIET BTech Eng Natalie Fischer Aileen Böckmann Lena van der Kamp Aldo Daniel Chipana Rahma abdi Gina Stelzer Kelvin Mwaura

Following our deforestation study released yesterday, Fairtrade's Senior Advisor Climate and Environment, Juan Pablo Solís Víquez, recently spoke to the EUobserver about the unbearable compliance costs of EU deforestation law for small-scale farmers. Read his full opinion piece here 👉 https://bit.ly/4gugOLc "Fairtrade International is deeply concerned that many small-scale cocoa and coffee producer organisations will be cut off from trade with the European Union market because of the EU Deforestation Regulation that will start to apply on 30 December 2024. "This is not because these producers farm on deforested land but is due to the ambiguities in the regulation. "The producers need clear definitions of key terms, a thorough explanation of the rules on the traceability requirements and data governance across supply chains, and specifications of the criteria that will be used to verify compliance from the European Commission. And they need it now, not later."

🌳 For many farmers, deforestation isn't just an environmental issue - it’s driven by economic factors. Forest conservation often requires resources that low-income farmers struggle to afford. Today, Fairtrade International is proud to release a new study highlighting how Fairtrade certified cocoa and coffee cooperatives are better positioned to protect forests as compared to non-Fairtrade cooperatives. This assistance is crucial as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) begins taking effect later this year. At Fairtrade, we believe that supporting farmers is key to driving meaningful change. When farmers have the right knowledge and enough resources, they don’t just conserve forests – they also foster better microclimates, protect water sources, enhance biodiversity, and safeguard wildlife. How does Fairtrade make a difference? 🌍 Fairer Prices: Farmers benefit from the Fairtrade Minimum Price - a financial safety net - and an additional Premium. These funds enable cooperatives to invest in the forest conservation measures needed for climate-resilient cocoa and coffee production and contribute to better livelihoods that can reduce pressure on forests. 📚 Training & Education: Through Fairtrade Producer Networks, farmers access specialised training on agroecology, agroforestry, and other critical topics, boosting their capacity to combat deforestation. 🌱 Fairtrade Standards: Our rigorous standards guide farmers in implementing effective forest protection strategies, aligned with EUDR requirements. Notably, some Fairtrade farmers have become leaders in their communities, even advising non-certified farmers on deforestation prevention practices - a testament to the positive ripple effects. However, we know that farmers alone cannot bear the compliance costs alone linked to laws imposed by the EU. Dive into the full study to learn more about how Fairtrade can make a difference in forest conservation and beyond 👉 https://bit.ly/4dZGflP #futureisfair #fairtrade #sustainability #deforestation #climateaction