by Jeff Goldman
There is often debate about whether Fair Trade is effective, fair, and the best way to empower vulnerable farmers and artisans. Others argue whether it helps environmental sustainability, or reduces demand for producers’ products. While such debate is crucial, all sides would have stronger arguments if their cases were made with comprehensive, robust research and data. Observers are often criticizing one another for having opinions based on theory without evidence, conclusions drawn from anecdotes and not thorough study, and narrow case studies. So, as Fair Trade continues growing substantially, who should bring the proof?
We have seen glimpses of parts of the answers. Several academics have written articles, many listed in the online catalog Fair Trade Institute. A few people have written books on specific situations, like Daniel Jaffee’s Brewing Justice about coffee farmers in Oaxaca, Mexico. The largest labeling organizations, such as FLO and TransFair USA, publish statistics of how much money has gone to Fair Trade farmers. Many FT vendors, like Ten Thousand Villages USA, have published stories of how FT has helped their suppliers.
However, all of these glimpses haven’t settled many disputes. Last year we saw point and counterpoint in Europe from the Adam Smith Institute and Alastair Smith, author of a publication funded by the Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society. Just last month several Fair Trade advocates wrote letters disagreeing with Jacob Levin’s article in an Indiana Univesity student publication, The Ryder.
Options to carry out the research seem to include Fair Trade businesses, academics, think tanks, labeling or certification organizations, international development agencies, government economists and others. Since Fair Trade means considerably different things to different people, it would be difficult to study all important definitions and methods. However, a lot of progress could come from thorough research into one or two widely accepted versions.
In all versions, the stated beneficiaries of FT are the vulnernable farmers and artisans, who certainly can’t be expected to pay for such research. As for many initiatives that are created to benefit marginalized people, charitable foundations and government agencies, in partnership with interest groups (FT associations, free market outfits), should fund academics to do such work. If successful, these stakeholders would save us future energy debating the merits of FT, so we can invest it in whatever ways best empower those with few opportunities. If this suggestion is good, where have they been?
by Tex Dworkin
By Jacqueline DeCarlo
We, on the Fair Trade Calendar Committee are pleased to announce the winners of the first annual Fair Trade Photo Competition conducted by Fair Trade Federation and Fair Trade Resource Network. From the 60+ photos submitted and the thousands of votes cast on Competico.com, producer groups, student activists, and a wide array of fair trade supporters participated over the three week competition. While anyone could vote, photo entries were restricted to students, activists, wholesalers, retailers and others who had a direct affiliation with FTF, FTRN TransFair or WFTO.