New Fairtrade film challenges Scots not to feed exploitation

New research published shows that an impressive 84 per cent of Scotland's residents drink tea or coffee at break time, but one in five (21 per cent) 'never think' about who produces their food and drink.
The new Fairtrade film shows the condensed journey of our produce  from the beginning of the supply chain, where workers toil away in rough conditions, directly to the end of the journey, where we bring the produce into our homes.The new Fairtrade film shows the condensed journey of our produce  from the beginning of the supply chain, where workers toil away in rough conditions, directly to the end of the journey, where we bring the produce into our homes.
The new Fairtrade film shows the condensed journey of our produce  from the beginning of the supply chain, where workers toil away in rough conditions, directly to the end of the journey, where we bring the produce into our homes.

Scots are more savvy than the rest of the UK, with two percent more claiming to “sometimes” or “often” consider where every day edibles come from.

Meanwhile, 16 per cent of Scotland’s adults have “never thought about” whether their food is made under exploitative conditions, where producers don’t receive a fair deal for what they grow.

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Smallholder farmers are responsible for providing the majority of the UK’s tea and coffee, yet one in three people in Kenya’s coffee and tea growing regions live in poverty; over 2 million children work in hazardous conditions in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana; and the average cocoa farmer in Côte d’Ivoire lives on less than 40p a day.

Despite this, 70 per cent in the country say that they are aware of the positive change that buying ethically-sourced goods can bring to communities in the developing world. So this year, the Fairtrade Foundation’s 23rd annual campaign Fairtrade Fortnight (February 27 – March 12) will spread an urgent message to speak up on behalf of producers more loudly than ever.

That’s because 2017 will be one of the most uncertain years for generations when it comes to international trade. Following the vote for Brexit, the UK will need to renegotiate more than 50 international trade deals; and no one knows yet what this will mean for farmers and workers in poor countries.

Michael Gidney, CEO of the Fairtrade Foundation, said: “Fairtrade is bringing lasting change to the lives of 1.6m farmers and workers around the world and it’s wonderful to see Fairtrade bucking the market trend with strong growth and new commitments. Yet too many companies still do not publish what they pay their producers. It’s time to really push the direct connection between the food we buy and their impact on farmers’ livelihoods. If people really knew, and thought about it, would they still make the same choices?”

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The research backs this up. Once challenged to consider how purchasing power can count, a whopping 76 per cent of those living in Scotland, compared to 70 per cent in the rest of the UK, say they would now look for ethically sourced products.

“When we reach for our everyday foods without necessarily questioning what lies behind them, seduced by nice packaging, or attractive products and brands, we may be unconsciously feeding exploitation”, Michael continued.

In a collaboration with advertising agency AMV BBDO, the Fairtrade Foundation has made a new short film entitled ‘Don’t Feed Exploitation’. When young children turn up on a couple’s doorstep with a food delivery, their reactions are caught on camera.

Using the insight that people respond strongly to unfairness, the film brings the realities of exploited farmers home to each and every one of us, and shows how buying Fairtrade can make a direct difference.

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The film shows the condensed journey of our produce – from the beginning of the supply chain, where workers toil away in rough conditions, directly to the end of the journey, where we bring the produce into our homes.

Michael added: “Imagine what could happen if we all put Fairtrade into our shopping baskets: that would be an incredible opportunity to reach more producers with even more impact, but it would also be a powerful signal to companies, and to government, that there are millions of people in this country who do not want their daily food to come at the cost of exploiting farmers.”

The Fairtrade Foundation is encouraging people across the UK to support farmers by holding Fairtrade breaks in their community, sharing stories of farmers who are benefiting from getting a fairer deal, buying Fairtrade products and sharing the film using the #ChooseFairtrade.

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