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perhaps capable of creative destruction to deliver sustainable development. Still a
fundamental question remains: how revolutionary is the fair trade movement? Has
it succeeded to include the reality of underdeveloped/developing countries, or just
by imposing the high standards of developed economies? I let the forthcoming case
studies speak by themselves, with their specificities contributing to the debate on
fair trade potential contributions for sustainable development based on empirical
knowledge.
9.4 Methodology
The methodological approach of this qualitative study was a literature review associated with a desktop-based review of case studies for a comparative analysis about
fair trade certified small-scale producers. Small rice farmers from Thailand and
small quinoa farmers from Bolivia are analysed regarding the SDG 8 in light with
the potential of the fair trade initiative to produce positive outcomes, from which
recommendations are drawn.
9.5 Case Studies Findings
9.5.1 Thai Rice Case
Thai rice farmers are brought into evidence to illustrate the fair trade initiative
potential benefits. Findings were depicted from studies by Becchetti et al. (2012).
These small rice producers are from the northern, north-eastern, and central regions
of Thailand. They count approximately 1.100 producers who have joined Green
Net, a non-governmental organisation founded in 1993 to stand up for sustainability
practices in agriculture. Green Net was created given the concern of producers and
consumers with the use of pesticides and chemicals in the country and their impacts
over public health and environment (Green Net). The change to livelihoods of fair
trade certified small-scale rice producers was tested by Becchetti et al. (2012), what
is a rare finding related to staplefoods, being more common the studies about fair
trade top sales commodities such as coffee, cocoa and fruits.
Rice farmers in Thailand have been the target of a national government policy to
turn conventional rice farmers into organic ones regarding environmental protection
and population’s health. In 2004 the organic rice farms comprised 0.049% of all rice
farms in the country (Becchetti et al. 2012), and Thailand ranks among the world’s
top rice producers. Fair trade has worked in the country through cooperatives and
NGOs as Green Net, joining efforts to increase sustainable development farming
practices. Green Net was granted the Fairtrade (from Fairtrade Labelling
Organisation) certification in 2002.
9 SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
perhaps capable of creative destruction to deliver sustainable development. Still a
fundamental question remains: how revolutionary is the fair trade movement? Has
it succeeded to include the reality of underdeveloped/developing countries, or just
by imposing the high standards of developed economies? I let the forthcoming case
studies speak by themselves, with their specificities contributing to the debate on
fair trade potential contributions for sustainable development based on empirical
knowledge.
9.4 Methodology
The methodological approach of this qualitative study was a literature review associated with a desktop-based review of case studies for a comparative analysis about
fair trade certified small-scale producers. Small rice farmers from Thailand and
small quinoa farmers from Bolivia are analysed regarding the SDG 8 in light with
the potential of the fair trade initiative to produce positive outcomes, from which
recommendations are drawn.
9.5 Case Studies Findings
9.5.1 Thai Rice Case
Thai rice farmers are brought into evidence to illustrate the fair trade initiative
potential benefits. Findings were depicted from studies by Becchetti et al. (2012).
These small rice producers are from the northern, north-eastern, and central regions
of Thailand. They count approximately 1.100 producers who have joined Green
Net, a non-governmental organisation founded in 1993 to stand up for sustainability
practices in agriculture. Green Net was created given the concern of producers and
consumers with the use of pesticides and chemicals in the country and their impacts
over public health and environment (Green Net). The change to livelihoods of fair
trade certified small-scale rice producers was tested by Becchetti et al. (2012), what
is a rare finding related to staplefoods, being more common the studies about fair
trade top sales commodities such as coffee, cocoa and fruits.
Rice farmers in Thailand have been the target of a national government policy to
turn conventional rice farmers into organic ones regarding environmental protection
and population’s health. In 2004 the organic rice farms comprised 0.049% of all rice
farms in the country (Becchetti et al. 2012), and Thailand ranks among the world’s
top rice producers. Fair trade has worked in the country through cooperatives and
NGOs as Green Net, joining efforts to increase sustainable development farming
practices. Green Net was granted the Fairtrade (from Fairtrade Labelling
Organisation) certification in 2002.
9 SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth