Fairtrade International, a pioneer in ethical consumerism, is set to revise its certification standards for small-scale producer organizations, hired-labor organizations, traders, and agricultural commodities. The multi-year project aims to reshape the way millions of farmers, workers, and buyers interact with the system that supports smallholder farmer livelihoods.
The Germany-based nonprofit plans to overhaul all generic standards and product standards for coffee and other crops. The new “evolved” standards are expected to be published in 2027, with certification against them starting by 2028, following a full public consultation in 2026.
Marike Runneboom de Peña, Interim CEO of Fairtrade International, stated, “We know the world is shifting, and we will be there supporting farmers with evolved standards that meet their practical needs as well as the requirements for a fair and just trade system.” The standards process will involve Fairtrade’s regional producer networks, national marketing organizations, and Flocert, the independent certifier of Fairtrade.
Coffee is one of Fairtrade’s original and largest products. In 2023, producer organizations harvested about 578,000 metric tons of Fairtrade coffee, with nearly 775,000 coffee farmers in the system. Approximately half of that volume was also organic-certified. In 2023, producer cooperatives took in €82.4 million ($95.4 million) in Fairtrade premiums. However, only part of the certified volume is sold with the Fairtrade minimum price and premium attached.
The Rainforest Alliance introduced a unified 2020 Certification Program after merging with UTZ, and the Global Coffee Platform released a new Coffee Sustainability Reference Code in 2021 as a shared baseline for sustainable coffee production.
This standards overhaul comes as other coffee-focused schemes have updated their frameworks to meet changing market and regulatory conditions. The Rainforest Alliance introduced a unified 2020 Certification Program after merging with UTZ, and the Global Coffee Platform released a new Coffee Sustainability Reference Code in 2021 as a shared baseline for sustainable coffee production.
– Fairtrade International is revising its certification standards for various crops, including coffee, aiming to support smallholder farmers and meet changing market conditions. – The new “evolved” standards are expected to be published in 2027 and certified by 2028 following a public consultation in 2026. – Fairtrade’s standards overhaul follows similar updates from other coffee-focused schemes like the Rainforest Alliance and the Global Coffee Platform.
CLOSE: What do you think about these changes to Fairtrade certification standards? Will they help smallholder farmers navigate the complexities of the global coffee trade? Share your thoughts below!
Questions & Answers
What is the Fairtrade organization planning to do with coffee and other crops’ standards?
Fairtrade plans a major overhaul of its standards for coffee and other crops, aiming to improve sustainability and farmers’ rights.
How will the changes in Fairtrade standards impact coffee farmers globally?
The changes could potentially lead to better wages, more sustainable farming practices, and improved market access for coffee farmers worldwide.
Information sourced from industry reports and news outlets.
