Fair trade organic farming

There is often not even a purely economic justification for this dislocation. Research at the University of the Philippines and the International Rice Research Institute has shown that the gain in extra rice production achieved by using high input chemical farming methods is outweighed solely by the additional healthcare costs arising from those methods (New Scientist 30 October 1993). Add the cost of imported inputs, environmental degradation and erosion and the balance tips even further. 

---

Wholesome Sweeteners This company tries to work with fair trade—certified farm cooperatives whenever possible, which means the small farms are paid fairly and directly. This helps support families, farmers, and the local community. The company also recycles fuel to generate electricity for its mill and nearby villages. Its sugar is organic and hand-cultivated. You can even go on the Web site to find the farm that sourced your sweetener. 

The more the organic farming system is connected to the international market, the higher is the number of players involved in the production chain and the higher is the risk for dependency on decisions made externally. Because the establishment of a natural resource management and of a certification is costly, additional income is necessary in order to afford it. A balanced price-costs relation is ensured also if Fair Trade rules are considered/respected. However, with the establishment... 

Across the Atlantic, Nicholson-Lord (2003) tirgues that British organic farm conversion slowed to 3% in 2002-2003, while 10% of organic farms reverted to conventional status because their organic premium was lost in a maturing market. In response, the Soil Association (2003a) hoped to introduce ethical trade certification in 2004, for small and medium-scale British farmers and processors, similar to global Fair Trade schemes. 

I believe that fair trade, combined with organic production, can help to reduce the kind of trading that exploits producers distant from the final market and ignorant of prevailing prices. (HRH The Prince of Wales on Benefits of Organic Farming , 21 March 2002, London). 

Cierpka, T. (1999), Organic Farming and Fair Trade , Ecology and Farming, No. 22, May 11-12. 

---