Bonn, Germany-based Fairtradae International recently released its annual report for the 2011/12 campaign, laying bare the foundations behind Fairtrade's continued sales growth.
According to Raul del águila, one of the four producer representatives on the Fairtrade International board, the farmers' ownership of the system and participation in standard-setting are key to Fairtrade's success.
“Fairtrade is a change agent,' he said. 'It promotes a new way of being; producers farm more responsibly, companies do business more responsibly and consumers purchase more responsibly. And it works because it’s about involving people throughout the whole system in deciding and making this change.”
The number of producer organisations reportedly increased by 10 per cent last year to 991, representing more than 1.2m farmers and workers, while Fairtrade premiums also rose, to some €65m.
The increase in producer representation has been a highlight of the 2011/12 campaign, rising to 50 per cent in the General Assembly, giving producers an equal voice, while the vice chair position is also now held by a producer network representative.
