On the Trail of Fairtrade Cotton
Come with us on a journey to the heart of Senegal’s cotton country.
We’re heading to Kedougou, a poor region in the South-east corner of Senegal. Cotton is the main cash crop and a vital source of income. As we drive by, women are hand-picking cotton on small, non-irrigated family plots.
A bumpy track takes us to the villages where the Fairtrade cotton project first began in 2004. All the farmers here are now producing Fairtrade cotton. But with what impact?
These cotton farmers talk about the concrete benefits Fairtrade has brought to their communities. But also about the challenges they are facing. Because one thing is certain: The impact Fairtrade has depends on the amount of cotton these producers can sell on Fairtrade terms. And for them to sell, they need strong commitments from the textile industry.
Watch the video here
Learn more about Fairtrade cotton in our slideshow
Enjoy the ride!
Film produced with the support of the European Union.
 
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Beyond 2015 – A New Fair Trade Campaign
Fairtrade Towns and campaigners are getting behind a new ambitious campaign to get Fair Trade on the global development agenda.
‘Fair Trade Beyond 2015’ calls for fair and ethical trade rules to be part of the new development framework when the United Nations Millennium Development Goals expire in 2015.
The Mayor of Poznan, the first ever Polish Fairtrade Town, was the first to sign the Beyond 2015 declaration (PDF), along with Fairtrade International CEO Harriet Lamb. Now the Fair Trade movement is calling for more town leaders, businesses and supporters to follow suit!
Find out more and get involved…
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Sugar Farmers Put Jamaica on Fairtrade Map
A small-scale sugarcane farmers’ organization became the first ever Fairtrade certified group in Jamaica last month!
It's a great achievement considering the devastating impact of Hurricane Sandy, which affected some 11,000 farmers across the island, and totally destroyed around 1,500 hectares of crops. Despite the difficulties the sugarcane farmers were determined to press ahead and get their Fairtrade certification. Five more groups are working towards a revised deadline and we look forward to welcoming them to Fairtrade soon.
Read more here…
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Smallholders to benefit from carbon finance
Fairtrade International and The Gold Standard Foundation have announced a ground-breaking agreement to incorporate Fairtrade principles into Gold Standard carbon projects, with the first credits expected by the end of 2013.
The agreement means thousands more smallholders in developing countries will be able to access the carbon market, and receive much needed finance to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
The announcement was made at the UN climate talks in Doha earlier this month.
Read more here…
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