Fairtrade: benefits for farmers, workers and businesses

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Fairtrade has been shown to increase standards of living and reduce risk and vulnerability for farmers and workers.

Fairtrade can enable farmer groups to become stronger businesses. Fairtrade Standards encourage democratic leadership, administrative efficiency, transparent accounting and improved governance. This means that farms are well represented and trust their leadership, which makes the organisation a stronger business partner within the supply chain.

Fairtrade Standards aim to protect workers’ basic rights, including a safe working environment, the right to join a trade union and negotiate with their employer on wages and conditions, prohibiting discrimination and forced or illegal child labour.

Fairtrade is about doing trade differently. It empowers farmers and workers to take control of their lives, businesses and communities through trade. Fairtrade also enables businesses – and through them, consumers – to understand the whole supply chain because it is tracked from producer to buyer.

Fairtrade believes the role of women in agriculture needs more visibility, recognition and value, and that gender equity is important to social sustainability

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Supporting farmers to improve the amount of crop they produce and its quality are important for sustainable livelihoods. It means farmers can earn more from what they produce to become more economically stable and more reliable suppliers, which improves the stability of business relationships

The Fairtrade Premium enables farmers and workers to invest in their communities to improve access to basic services.

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