Small Farmers. Big Change.

The Fair Trade movement has enjoyed for decades countless successes for small producers in the South. Currently the small coffee producers are in a very difficult context. In the case of coffee, the attacks of the disease ‘yellow coffee rust’, since 2012 to date producers families have lost between 20 and 80% of their production. In addition, since November 2014, the international coffee price has been continuously falling. What is the importance and challenge of fair trade in this context? Is fair trade still the best option to support the movement of small coffee producers in the world? How?

In the case of cocoa, the chocolate market is virtually controlled by a few multinational corporations. Operations are of immense scale. Does fair trade can still guarantee the traceability of the product to consumers and, at the same time, support smallholders in their path to greater dignity and strong local economies? Under what conditions?

Claiming purchases under the concept of fair trade has become an attractive business case for brands. Currently there are many fair trade labels. However, is all fair trade the same? What is the vision of small producers themselves?

Through the SPP label, Small Producers’ Symbol, organizations of small farmers and families that practice small-scale farming have managed to provide a guarantee for the consumer and set themselves the highest standards of the fair trade market, backed by independent certification.

Peruvian Vice President Marisol Espinoza Cruz, will talk about these issues from her point of view and experience as a person who´s professional formation happened in the middle of small producers and who has been promoting and defending the causes of small farmers throughout her career.

Contact Vice President Marisol Espinoza Cruz: http://www.vicepresidencia.gob.pe
Contact SPP: http://www.spp.coop – com@spp.coop – Tel: +52-55-5364 1254
SPP during Biofach: dire@spp.coop – Cel: +52-1-55 9197 6470

Read her speech here this Friday, Feb. 12