Essential Questions Define Fair Trade Define Organic Farming Define Agribusiness

Fair Trade & Organic Farming

Fair trade Fair trade is a social movement whose stated goal is to help producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions and to promote sustainable farming. Members of the movement advocate the payment of higher prices to exporters, as well as improved social and environmental standards.

Fair Trade Focus The movement focuses in particular on commodities, or products which are typically exported from developing countries to developed countries, but also consumed in domestic markets (e.g. Brazil, India and Bangladesh) most notably handicrafts, coffee, cocoa, wine, sugar, fresh fruit, chocolate, flowers and gold.

International trading The movement seeks to promote greater equity in international trading partnerships through dialogue, transparency, and respect. It promotes sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers in developing countries.

Three core beliefs Fair trade is grounded in three core beliefs; first, producers have the power to express unity with consumers. Secondly, the world trade practices that currently exist promote the unequal distribution of wealth between nations. Lastly, buying products from producers in developing countries at a fair price is a more efficient way of promoting sustainable development than traditional charity and aid.

Fair Trade Agriculture Fair trade coffee: Shade-grown coffee produced by certified fair-trade farmers, who then sell the coffee directly to coffee importers Guarantees a “fair trade price” Over 500,000 registered farmers Produced in more than 20 countries Often organically grown Purchase commitment by Starbucks and other chains

What is organic farming? Organic farming works in harmony with nature rather than against it. This involves using techniques to achieve good crop yields without harming the natural environment or the people who live and work in it. The methods and materials that organic farmers use are summarized as follows:

To keep and build good soil structure and fertility: • recycled and composted crop wastes and animal manures • the right soil cultivation at the right time • crop rotation • green manures and legumes • mulching on the soil surface

To control pests, diseases and weeds: • careful planning and crop choice • the use of resistant crops • good cultivation practice • crop rotation • encouraging useful predators that eat pests • increasing genetic diversity • using natural pesticides

Organic farming also involves: • careful use of water resources • good animal husbandry

Agribusiness is a unique culture in the world today. It is like taking the small family farm and exploding the scale of work that gets done so a wide variety of agricultural products can be provided. It has unique challenges that must be faced, but the rewards are clear. When agribusiness has a good season, then people have enough food to eat.

Agribusiness / Factory Farming  Is the business of agricultural production. The term was coined in 1957 by Goldberg and Davis. It includes agrichemicals, breeding, crop production (farming and contract farming), distribution, farm machinery, processing, and seed supply, as well as marketing and retail sales. All agents of the food and fiber value chain and those institutions that influence it are part of the agribusiness system.

Intensive animal farming Intensive animal farming or industrial livestock production, also colloquially known as factory farming, is a production approach towards farm animals in order to maximize production output, while minimizing production costs. Intensive farming refers to animal husbandry, the keeping of livestock such as cattle, poultry, and fish at higher stocking densities than is usually the case with other forms of animal agriculture—a practice typical in industrial farming by agribusinesses.

Pros and Cons PROS CONS Cheaper food Small farms disappear Easy to regulate fewer farms more use of chemicals/ pollutants Lots of job opportunities Fewer food choices Animal cruelty

Essential Questions Define Fair Trade Define Organic Farming Define Agribusiness