公平貿易咖啡：給咖啡農一個比較好的交易條件與更永續的未來

在公平貿易的領域裡，我們非常歡迎辯論與討論如何改進我們的工作。批判性的分析挑戰我們的假設也幫助我們改善公平貿易的模式。貧窮與不公平深深的根植在複雜的全球不公平的貿易系統；任何複雜的問題，需要多面向的解決方式。

日前有篇文章「10個公平貿易失靈的理由」，不幸地它的觀點是奠基有選擇性的研究上。伴隨著近日數個發表的文章，我們認為他們都對公平貿易的運作方式有些誤解。

公平貿易不是一個一次性、全面性解決不公平貿易弊病的系統。 它是一個工具，能幫助農民與工人平衡貿易當中的權力關係。在大部分的發展力量上，權力的條件具有最深遠的影響。

透過公平貿易，咖啡農可以在價值鍊上往上移動，協議比較好的交易條件，強化社區組織，同時保護他們的環境。

此外，公平貿易的社區發展金（Fairtrade Premium）是採購原物料時額外支付的一筆金額，公平貿易的農民與工人能夠根據自己的需要來決定投資的項目，某些能在未來發揮發展的效益。

有些獨立機構的研究已經證明公平貿易給予農民與工人的改變，但是仍然面臨許多的挑戰。

• 哥廷根（Gottingen）大學在烏干達的研究證明，公平貿易認証讓農民增加了30%的收入，漸少了50%的貧窮機會。^[1] 
• 最近一個來自於哈佛大學的研究證明，公平貿易達成了多項預期的目標。當農民得到比較好的報酬，農民會取得比較好的信用，認為他們的經濟環境會更穩定，而且更有意願採用友善環境的耕作方式。^[2] 
• I此外，哈佛大學的研究被Widick刻意忽略的事實是，公平貿易認證可以提高產品的出口價格（大約是每磅5美分），此外公平貿易認證可以增加該區域的兒童就學率。 ^[3][4]
• 自然資源研究機構（Natural Resources Institute）在亞洲、非洲、拉丁美洲的研究發現，透過公平貿易的社區發展金的投資，婦女與兒童都可以得到益處。^[5]

另外，在我們第五版的「公平貿易的規模與效益觀察」報告中呈現公平貿易工作的完整圖像，公平貿易認證體系下的生產者組織集結了超過66萬名小規模的農民。這份報告清楚的呈獻了生產者如何使用公平貿易社區發展金（相較去年成長一倍，達3700萬美金），公平貿易的交易條件，生產者面臨的困難點，以及最近相關的研究摘要。< http://www.fairtrade.net/fileadmin/user_upload/content/2009/resources/2013-Fairtrade-Monitoring-Scope-Benefits_web.pdf>

國際公平貿易組織工作的範圍含括全球66萬民小農，分佈在28個國家，包括那些列入聯合國低度發展清單的國家，例如：衣索比亞、馬拉威、剛果共和國、烏干達、坦尚尼亞。要為那些咖啡農帶來更好的影響，我們需要增加公平貿易咖啡的市場，讓那些被認證的合作社能夠以公平貿易的條件銷售更多的咖啡，得到更多伴隨公平貿易銷售帶來的好處。

消費者可以相信，當他們選擇一杯公平貿易的咖啡時，咖啡農得到更公平的條件而且朝向更永續的未來。雖然面對著如此複雜與困難的貧窮問題，國際公平貿易體系扮演著關鍵性的角色在幫助，致力於改善農民與工人的生活。

澄清：Wydick所批評Fair Trade USA已經不是國際公平貿易組織（FLO）的一員。若對Fair Trade USA有興趣的朋友，可以參考他們的網站。（http://fairtradeusa.org/）

針對網路上其他批評意見的回應：

• 公平貿易標準與運作原則不是放在農民的支出是否「值得」達到環境與社會的目標來衡量。它們確保公平貿易商品的成長奠基在經濟、社會、環境的永續發展上，這是非常實質確保農民與工人在他們的土地上擁有永續的未來。況且公平貿易的標準是由生產者、貿易商、非營利組織共同制定的。

• 公平貿易的農民與工人擁有50%的董事會席次，四個標準審議委員會席次。生產者在公平貿易組織的內部參與組織發展。

• 公平貿易生產者得到保障價格（Minium Price），如果市場價格比保障價格高，則是市場價格。這樣機制在於設置一個安全網，保障生產者得到基本的生產成本與生活所需。生產者所得到社區發展金（Fairtrade Premium），需要投資25%用於改善生產品質與提昇生產力。

• 社區發展金（Fairtrade Premium）的使用需根據合作社民主投票的機制來決定投資於組織發展項目的優先順序。發展中國家充滿了發展經濟學的「好意」，現在是時候讓農民為自己做決定。

• 對許多咖啡農來說， 投資在商業設施是一項重要的工作之一。 2012年，公平貿易咖啡農有48%的社區發展金投資在改善合作社的生產設備與基礎建設。這些投資對於農民或組織發展來說都是有益處的。

• 除了提高生產力與品質之外，許多農民組織選擇投資在社區建設。譬如：尼加拉瓜的COOMPROCOM合作社投資水塔與自來水管，有140個家庭獲益。其他有改善道路、興建學校、支付教師薪水、設立診所與藥房，設立獎學金或促進教育發展等，都是主要運用項目。

• 公平貿易與直接貿易並不相互排斥。認證能讓買家能夠確保嚴格的標準被達成。但是我們相信還有很多其他的路徑，公平貿易組織只是開始一個起點。建立生產者與貿易商之間直接的長期伙伴關係是對彼此都有益處的。例如，南非的公平貿易咖啡商Bean There Coffee就致力於尋找公平貿易認証來源的生產者，並且以公平貿易的條件交易。（生態綠也是如此）
• 公平貿易認証並沒有排除生產者或貿易商原本就該做的事情。公平貿易合作社非常樂意於協助買家找到符合品質要求的咖啡豆。更高品質的咖啡能夠得到更高的價格，價格能作為誘因改善生產的品質。

• 近年來有許多公平貿易合作社得到精品咖啡的獎項。早就打破公平貿易品質不好的迷思。譬如：祕魯CECOVASA，尼加拉瓜ALDEA GLOBAL。

以下為國際公平貿易組織回應的原文

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Fairtrade coffee: a fairer deal and a more sustainable future for coffee farmers    

At Fairtrade, we welcome debate and discussion about our approach and our work. Critical analysis challenges our assumptions and helps us improve the Fairtrade model. The poverty and injustice that result from a deeply unfair global trade system is complex; and as with any complex problem, it requires a variety of approaches.

The recent article ’10 Reasons Fairtrade Coffee Doesn’t Work,’ unfortunately presents a view based on selective reading of research on Fairtrade. As with a number of articles released recently, we realize that there has been some misunderstanding about how Fairtrade’s development approach works.

Fairtrade is not a one-time, cure-all for the ills of an unfair trade system. It is a tool that farmers and workers can use to help balance the powers of trade. As with most development efforts, the right conditions are needed to have meaningful impact.

Through Fairtrade, coffee farmers can move up the value chain, negotiate on better terms, strengthen their communities, and protect their environment.

Plus, with the Fairtrade Premium – extra funds paid above the raw product purchase price – Fairtrade farmers and workers can invest according to their priorities, something every development economist can get behind.

Independent academic studies show the tangible differences Fairtrade makes for farmers and workers and the many challenges that remain.

• Research in Uganda by Gottingen University found that incomes of farmers on Fairtrade certified farms had risen by 30% and that Fairtrade certification reduced the likelihood of being poor by 50%.^[6] 
• A recent study from Harvard found evidence that “Fair Trade does achieve many of its intended goals”, as farmers receive higher prices, have greater access to credit, perceive their economic environment as being more stable, and are more likely to engage in environmentally friendly farming practices.^[7] 
• In addition, the Harvard study cited by Wydick omitted the fact that researchers found that “… Fairtrade certification is associated with higher export prices (approx.. 5 cents per pound),” and that “…Fairtrade certification is associated with increased school attendance in the region.” ^[8][9]
• Research in Asia, Africa and Latin America by the Natural Resources Institute found that “women and children had particularly benefited from the Fairtrade Premium investments.”^[10]

In addition, the fifth edition of our report, ‘Monitoring the Scope and Benefits of Fairtrade’, presents a complete picture of Fairtrade’s work – including the more than 660,000 small-scale farmer members in Fairtrade certified producer organizations< http://www.fairtrade.net/fileadmin/user_upload/content/2009/resources/2013-Fairtrade-Monitoring-Scope-Benefits_web.pdf>. This report clearly shows how producers choose to invest their Fairtrade Premiums (which nearly doubled last year to over €37 million), how much they sold on Fairtrade terms, the difficulties they face, and summaries of recent impact studies.

Around the world, Fairtrade works with more than 660,000 small-scale coffee farmers in 28 countries, including some of the countries on the UN’s Least Developed Countries list, such as Ethiopia, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Tanzania. To achieve a greater impact for coffee farmers and workers in these and other countries, we need to increase the market for Fairtrade coffee, so that certified cooperatives can sell more on Fairtrade terms and reap more of the benefits that come with Fairtrade sales.

Consumers can be confident that when they choose a cup of Fairtrade coffee, the farmers who grew the beans are getting a fairer deal and are working toward a more sustainable future. And while the poverty Fairtrade confronts is complex and difficult, Fairtrade does play a key role in helping the farmers and workers we serve improve their lives.

Other important points for online rebuttals (or to address specific criticism raised in the article).

• Fairtrade Standards and guidelines are not put in place to “meet worthy environmental and social objectives” at the expense of farmers. They exist to ensure that Fairtrade products are grown in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable way, which is vital to ensure that farmers and workers have a sustainable future on their land. Fairtrade Standards are set in consultation with producers, traders, companies and NGOs.

• Fairtrade farmers and workers have 50 percent representation in our General Assembly, four seats on our Board of Directors, and representation in the Standards Committee, making them an integral part of setting Fairtrade’s overall direction.

• Fairtrade coffee producers receive a minimum price for their beans (or the market price, if higher), which aims to cover the average cost of production and acts as a vital safety net giving farmers stability. Producers also earn a Fairtrade Premium, and coffee farmers must invest 25 percent of it to enhance productivity and quality.

• The Fairtrade Premium is invested according to the cooperative’s priorities and voted on democratically at the organization level. The developing world is littered with the good intentions of development economists. It’s time to start letting farmers take their own decisions on what’s important for them.

• For many coffee farmers, investing in their business is an important part of their work. In 2012, Fairtrade coffee farmers invested nearly 48% of their Premium income to investments in their producer organizations – around half of which was spent on improving facilities and infrastructure. Investing in coffee farmers is not only good for them, it’s good for companies.  

• Beyond productivity and quality initiatives, many farmers’ organizations choose to invest in the needs of their community. For example, members of the COOMPROCOM cooperative in Nicaragua have invested in building water tanks and installing piped water, which benefitted 140 families. Other cooperatives have built roads, equipped schools, paid teachers’ salaries and financed clinics and dispensaries. Scholarships and efforts to provide education form another major portion.

• Fairtrade and direct trade are not mutually exclusive. Certification can provide buyers the assurance that stringent Standards are being met. But we believe that in many ways, Fairtrade is a start to the journey. Building a long-lasting relationship with producers and trading directly can benefit all parties. For example, Bean There Coffee in South Africa sources certified coffee when able, and buys their other coffee on equivalent terms.

• Fairtrade certification does not excuse traders and buyers from doing their homework. Certified cooperatives are happy to work with buyers to find the quality they want and need. Higher quality beans can and do attract higher prices well beyond market prices, which provides an incentive to improve quality.

• Over the years, several Fairtrade retail coffees have won taste awards – which debunks a long-standing myth about coffee quality.