In the high Andes of the Altiplano, stretching across the vast landscapes near Potosí, Bolivia, quinoa has been steadily cultivated for centuries. For these farmers, quinoa is a certain staple, but climate change turns that certainty into doubt.

Today, producers are witnessing rains arriving later, and frosts come earlier. “This year has hit us hard. There is no production if there is no humidity. You cannot do anything during droughts,” says Antonio Mendoza, a quinoa producer from the APRAVI association, which brings together 16 small producers. In 2016, APRAVI joined CLAC Fairtrade with 26 members. Before that, they sold quinoa in an uncontrolled market, where prices rarely reflected the effort behind their work.

Being Fairtrade certified offers small producers far more than just market access; it helps them navigate the growing uncertainties of farming. This support takes shape through the Fairtrade Premium. It is an additional sum paid to farming cooperatives on top of the selling price whenever their products are sold under Fairtrade terms. What makes the Premium distinctive is that farmers themselves decide democratically how it is spent, ensuring it meets the real needs of their communities. This could involve activities such as tree planting, adopting clean energy, and diversifying crops to help them better prepare for climate change.

For quinoa producers the Fairtrade Premium has become a crucial lifeline in the face of climate change. Claudio Antonio suggests investing it in cisterns, water-harvesting systems, or training and information that help farmers regain some control over their environment. Beyond addressing immediate challenges, producers have also pooled their Premium funds to care for the land and their communities, planting trees, improving waste management, securing certifications, and documenting their work. They have even used the funds to support families facing food shortages after the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating how collective action and Fairtrade’s model can make a tangible difference, even in difficult times.

Despite the challenges, the farmers refuse to give up. Each season brings uncertainty, yet Fairtrade certification continues to provide support, helping them protect their crops and sustain their livelihoods. In the highlands of Bolivia, the APRAVI association tends their quinoa with care and attention, nurturing every plant as if it were their own. Claudio Antonio sums up their commitment: “Nothing beats Bolivian quinoa because we are on the edge of the Salar. I would like the buyer to support us to have a better yield and to consume our product, which we make with so much care.”