Brenda, can you tell us what drew you to join Fairtrade, and what are you most excited about in your new role?

What drew me to Fairtrade is the opportunity to see first-hand the impact that our work is having. Being a producer-led organisation means we are more able to track our impact on the field. That’s very exciting.

At Fairtrade we also need to be continuously learning: Keeping up to date with policy, trade, and scientific developments, and also farmer and business needs which are always changing. That also excites me. I think it’s going to be a very dynamic role.

What are you particularly looking forward to learning or doing in your next few months here at Fairtrade?

I’m most looking forward to learning from producers themselves. Because of my previous work in sustainable agriculture and in development, I am quite aware of the challenges that they face when it comes to climate change, but I'm very excited to learn more from them, also about how they are finding solutions themselves.

In your experience how are farmers, and also businesses dealing with the effects of climate change – and what role can Fairtrade play?

Farmers experience the effects of climate change first-hand, which means they are forced to adapt, and quickly. They have been very creative and proactive at finding new techniques and I’m sure there is a lot we can learn from them and amplify. For example,  I worked on a project with maize farmers in Mexico and was amazed to see how farmers with larger fields were incorporating “Milpa intercropping”-like systems, which is an ancient technique to increase resistance to high temperatures.

When it comes to retailers or food brands, I think they are working hard to understand how climate change impacts their value chains and how to comply with legal regulations, such as EUDR. I think we at Fairtrade are in the great position of having a birds-eye view of the food system from farm to shelf, from the coffee farmer right to your morning espresso. That means we can understand the needs and address them from a holistic perspective.

We are also in a great position to involve the consumers, to share the stories of the farmers and help them understand the importance of their purchasing decisions. We're all part of the food system and each of us, through our cup of coffee or the bar of chocolate we choose, can have a say on the future we want to see.  

Progress to tackle climate change can sometimes feel slow and frustrating. What keeps you going and gives you reason for hope?

For me, understanding climate change is a bit like learning to ride a bike. Once you’ve learnt about the devastating effects it’s having on the world and our ecosystems, you can't unlearn it. Once you see it, you can't turn a blind eye to it. And yes, it's frustrating to see some governments stalling on commitments, or the scepticism in some quarters. But that's why every single achievement counts. Every little step is progress. We are still not where we need to be. But seeing the many people that are committed and want to keep this world a liveable place, that keeps me going.

And finally - tea or coffee? And how do you take it?

Both! I drink coffee the whole day long, with a dash of milk. It’s my rocket fuel. And then in the evening I drink herbal tea, to relax and wind down after all the caffeine!