Responding to the publication of the UK Government’s International Development White Paper, Fairtrade Foundation’s Head of Public Affairs, Alexander Carnwath, said:
‘In its White Paper, outlining the vision for international development until 2030, the UK Government puts a focus on global cooperation as the foundation for tackling poverty, climate change and other global challenges.
‘Who we cooperate with and how matters hugely – and while we welcome the White Paper’s emphasis on supporting farmers to build sustainable, resilient agriculture and food systems, we believe cooperation with smallholder farmers has a crucial role to play across a much wider set of development objectives. This is especially true in relation to trade, which the White Paper rightly acknowledges as having the potential to alleviate poverty and tackle the climate crisis.
‘If the UK Government is to make progress in unlocking this potential, it must be in partnership with the world’s 500 million smallholder farmers. It is their perspectives that will help to enable a sustainable approach to trade – and that must be central to the UK Government’s efforts as it implements its development vision.’
Cooperation with smallholder farmers has a crucial role to play across a much wider set of development objectives.
Alexander Carnwath, Head of Public Affairs, Fairtrade Foundation
[ENDS]
For more information contact Tomilola Ajayi, senior media and communications manager: tomilola.ajayi@fairtrade.org.uk
Image caption: Benjamin Ouedraogo, a cocoa farmer from Côte d’Ivoire.
About Fairtrade
Fairtrade changes the way trade works through better prices, decent working conditions, and a fairer deal for farmers and workers in low-income countries. Fairtrade International is an independent non-profit organisation representing more than two million small-scale farmers and workers worldwide. It owns the FAIRTRADE Mark, a registered trademark of Fairtrade that appears on more than 37,000 products. Beyond certification, Fairtrade International and its member organisations – which include Fairtrade Foundation – empower producers, partner with businesses, engage consumers, and advocate for a fair and sustainable future.