Update on FLO Coffee Efforts

FLO on some issues regarding the coffee price setting and actions taken...

Fairtrade sales in the UK up 40% in 2010 to top £1bn

The Fairtrade Foundation launched the Fairtrade Fortnight on the 28th of February 2011 by announcing that sales of Fairtrade products soared by 40% in 2010 to an estimated retail value of £1.17bn compared with £836m in 2009. UK shoppers are continuing to embrace Fairtrade, showing no downturn on ethical values despite tough economic times.


picture: Fairtrade Foundation UK

To highlight the start of Fairtrade Fortnight themed "Show Off Your Label", shoppers will see performers pose in shop windows wearing little else other than the Fairtrade label.
As many as 12,000 events will be held and a specially devised Facebook challenge will launch at facebook.com/FairtradeFoundation.

Each day, people in the UK will take part in a different, fun challenge such as creating a Wacky Fairtrade Banana Smile, Outrageous Fairtrade Label Waving, painting a Fairtrade Chocolate Moustache, Random Acts Of Fairtrade Kindness, Fairtrade Your Mum, Create A Fairtrade Fruit Inspired Hat, and a Fairtrade Ice Cream Pile Up.

Certcost Publishes Newsletter

CERTCOST has now released its first newsletter

CERTCOST is a 7th Framework Programme research project
supported by the European Commission. The project runs for three
years, 2008-
2011 and its main objective is to generate researchbased
knowledge on ways to improve the organic food certification
system in terms of efficiency, transparency and cost effectiveness

Still growth for FT in times of general economic slow down -as predicted

New logo selected for all EU organic products

The European Commission officially announced the winner of the EU organic logo competition.

From 1st July 2010, the organic logo of the EU will be obligatory on all pre-packaged organic products that have been produced in any of the EU Member States and meet the necessary standards. It will be optional for imported products. Other private, regional or national logos will be allowed to appear alongside the EU label. The organic farming regulation will be amended in the coming weeks to introduce the new logo into one of the annexes

The design which won the organic logo competition:

Fairtrade Soybean Standard released

FLO Develops Standards for Fairtrade Soybean and Pulses

Following a long term project to enable Fairtrade standards to be extended to include pulses and soybean, FLO has now approved the Soybean and Pulses Standards for Small Farmer Organizations. This will enable small-scale producers of pulses such as haricot bean, chickpea, red kidney, lentil as well as soybean to apply for Fairtrade certification.

Many consumers perceive these products to be grown only on large-scale plantations. However, millions of smallholders in the developing world depend on soybeans and pulses for their livelihood.

Soybean and pulse crops add nutrients such as nitrogen to the soil. For smallholder soybean production, the cycle is only 90 to 120 days and is often rotated with wheat, maize, rice, beans, sorghum or sugarcane. Similarly pulses are usually intercropped with crops such as wheat, coffee or cotton. Therefore encouraging small-scale farmers to continue producing soybean and pulses is a means of assisting in longer-term sustainability and enabling diversification through Fairtrade.

The Soybean and Pulses Standards for Small Farmer Organizations contains global Fairtrade minimum prices enabling producers from all regions to apply. However [some countries as India and Thailand currently have] an official government ban on the export of certain pulses. FLO respects this and will not certify producers growing products that are banned from export.

[Still it may opens the opportunity for processed Fairtrade soy bean products to be exported from such countries]

Fairtrade standards prohibit Fairtrade certified producer organisations from using genetically modified organisms (GMOs), including GM seeds and planting stock. Therefore, being Fairtrade certified will provide an incentive for small farmers to continue their commitment to produce GMO-free soybean.

Fairtrade standards, minimum prices and premiums for soybean and pulses are listed in the Fairtrade Product Standards which are published on the FLO web-site.

Agreement: Starbucks to double purchases of Fairtrade certified coffee

Seattle, New Orleans, October 28, 2008 - Starbucks, TransFair USA and Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) today announced a groundbreaking initiative that builds upon their organizations’ shared history of support for small-scale coffee farmers. Starbucks will double its purchases to 40 million pounds in 2009, making the company the largest purchaser of Fairtrade certified coffee in the world. To read the full statement please click here.

Clarification for group certification within NOP under way

After much confusion and irritation in 2007 on the policy towards group certification within the NOP - there seems to be a solution and clarification well on the way.

Group certification was conducted for NOP products all the time - with probably most products imported from outside to the US, originating from such group certification schemes. Still it was found somehow not according to the rules as not regulated within the NOP respectively.

This article in SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIES indicates that a move is imminent. the article refers to the agenda of the next Standard Board meeting (NOSB):

"How to simplify organic certification for multiple grower sites and refining the "100 percent organic" label are among the agenda items of the November meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).

An agenda item about certifying operations with multiple sites or units may result in a rule that allows inspectors to visit a sampling of a groups’ sites. It is based in an effort to make it easier for small producers in less developed areas around the world to be certified, according to a recommendation to pass the rule issued by Compliance, Accreditation and Certification Committee."

New organic EU logo postponed

Kreuzer in Organic Market - info 26th of March 2008: The new organic EU logo which should be implemented beginning with the 1st of January 2009 will be postponed. This is the information Organic-Market.Info got from Mr Michael Mann from the EU Commission. The statement says: "The European Commission is fully committed to promoting and encouraging the organic food sector in the European Union. Part of this process is an EU-funded promotion programme for organic food and the development of a new EU logo for all organic products. The Commission has decided to launch a promotion programme this summer." "As part of this programme, we will launch a competition, open to all EU citizens, to design a new logo. This will replace the draft logo which has recently been circulated", it says. To allow sufficient time for a suitable logo to be selected, the Commission will ask the Council to delay by one year (to 2010) the date on which the EU logo becomes compulsory. The reason for the withdrawal of the proposed logo was a big German discounter. "Aldi did contact the Commission to say it felt there was a similarity between the proposed EU logo and its own private logo", Mr. Mann wrote... STILL THE NEW ORGANIC STANDARD-REGULATION IS EXPECTED TO COME IN FORCE 1. Jan 2009

New European Organic Regulation under way

From 1st of January 2009 a new European Regulation (standard) on organic agriculture will come in force and replace the previous EEC No 2092/91

clipped from www.organic-europe.net In December 2006 the European Commission reached a general approach on the revision of the regulation.. On June 12, 2007, the Agriculture Ministers of the European Union reached political agreement on a new regulation on organic production and labelling. The new regulation was published on July 20, 2007 and will come into force on Janury 1, 2009 ( Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91).

Cambodia Bans Rice Exports

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday banned all rice exports from the country in a bid to halt the staple food's spiraling domestic prices.

Rice prices have risen sharply from about 40 cents/kg as speculation of shortages grip local markets, sparking demands that the government put a cap on costs.

Despite GDP growth averaging 11% over the past three years, more than a third of the country's 14 million people live on less than 50 cents a day, making even the slightest rise of food costs devastating to Cambodia's poorest.

source: Oryza March 26,2008

Cambodia Organic Rice Program in the news

Article in Thai language from the news site of the Manager abouth the organic rice program and potential rice export from Cambodia. The news is mentioning the "famous Certification instutute BCS-Oeko Garantie from Germany"
Unfortunatly the article is partly not really up to date

to article (in Thai)

Story of Stuff

Something I found interesting and entertaining
It's a nice, funny and educational clip, downloadable from this site

clipped from www.storyofstuff.com What is the Story of Stuff? From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

Organic Farming Sprouts Slowly

today in the Bangkok Post under "Top Stories" this article on organic farming and certification.

Organic farming sprouts slowly

"With demand for organic foodstuffs in developing countries rising at 25 per cent per year, Thailand has been slow to jump on the organic gravy train, according to GTZ, which has started a programme to facilitate Thai organic exports to Europe.
To date, there are only a handful of Thai companies specializing in organic foodstuffs and even a smaller number in the export market..."

Contains some views on how and why organic production is still under-represented in Thailand, a country which is claiming to become the "kitchen of the world".

also one part is factually not correct in this article:

"To meet international organic certification standards, such as those set by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), or BCS Oko Garantie of Germany, organic farms need to be at least 20 metres away from conventional farms, a tall order in Thailand's patchwork of small-holdings."

Such standard would be really difficult to meet by small paddy farmers in South East Asia. Fortunatly such standard requirement does not exist. There are more differientiated and complex rules on how an organic farmer has to minimize risk of contamination.

Coffee Minimum prices raised

clipped from www.fairtrade.net Thursday 13. of December 2007 FLO International Adjusts Fairtrade Minimum Prices for Arabica Coffee to Cover Costs of Sustainable Production Fairtrade continues to address the needs of coffee producing communitiesFairtrade Minimum Prices for Arabica coffee will be adjusted upwards to ensure Small Farmers’ Organisations continue to receive a price which covers the... Category: Important News [more]

New Mandatory Labelling For Fruits And Vegetables to the EU

From 1st of January 2008, the country of origin must be stated for all kinds of fruit and vegetables in the EU.
A change in European law (Article 2, paragraph 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1182/2007) means that all types of fruit and vegetables now have to be labelled with their country of origin.
This mandatory labelling previously applied only to fruit and vegetables subject to EC marketing standards.

Vietnamese Experts Recommend Farmers to go Organic

Oryza sent out some news on organic in Vietnam. That will probably help to solve the supply bottlenecks in some sectors of the organic rice trade - still we can only hope that it would not blur quality development efforts

Experts in Vietnam's agricultural industry have come out strongly in support of organic farming saying that wide use of organic farming will not only protect people’s health and the environment, but also boost the country’s exports.

Scientists, agricultural managers and farmers had gathered to discuss the use of organic products and the sustainable development of the domestic agricultural sector.

Experts also gave presentations on the importance of the use of organic products in agricultural production, particularly micro-organism fertilizers, and Viet Nam’s current agricultural practices. (source: Oryza)

First European Fair Trade fair

Equi’Sol and its European and French partners invite you to the first European Fair Trade fair.. 1-3. Feb 2008

Organic undersupply stunts market growth, OTA

Unreliable organic supplies are stunting the growth of over half of US organic food manufacturers, according to a new report by the (US) nation's industry association.

But despite supply challenges, the market continues to see strong growth, mirrored by the expansion in the range of organic products available, and the retail outlets that carry them

According to the Organic Trade Association's (OTA) 2007 Manufacturer Survey, organic foods are one of the fastest growing segments in the industry, with sales in 2006 increasing 21 percent to reach $16.7bn.

But results from the group's latest survey of organic manufacturers reveal that as more organic products are being churned out onto the market, securing raw materials is becoming a growing challenge.

Some 55 percent of survey respondents in 2007 said that a lack of dependable supply restricted their company from generating more sales of organic products. This compares to 52 percent last year. (more)

Global Fairtrade sales increase by 40% benefiting 1.4 million farmers worldwide

clipped from www.fairtrade.net Bonn, Germany, 25 July 2007. Consumers worldwide spent 1.6 billion Euros on Fairtrade Certified Products in 2006, according to Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO). This is a 41% increase on the previous year, directly benefiting over 1.4 million producers and workers worldwide.