Fairtrade’s approach to living incomes for farmers
Without a living income, farmers can’t afford proper housing, a balanced diet, sending their children to school, and more. Even less likely are they able to invest in their farms to improve their productivity and take care of environmental priorities, leaving them trapped in poverty. At Fairtrade we want living incomes to be the norm, not the exception.
A living income is a human right. It's defined as sufficient income to afford a decent standard of living for all household members – including a nutritious diet, clean water, decent housing, education, health care and other essential needs, plus a little extra for emergencies and savings.
Fairtrade certification alone doesn’t guarantee that farmers will earn a living income – it depends on multiple factors, and on everyone playing their part, from farmers, to cooperatives, to businesses, governments, and shoppers.
This is why our Living Income Strategy outlines what needs to be done beyond business as usual, in three interconnected pillars:
- responsible procurement, including Living Income Reference Prices
- sustainable production for healthy and productive farms and
- enabling environment.
Fairtrade is committed to discovering what really works to improve farmers’ incomes and to sharing what we learn along the way.
Fairtrade's living income model
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Responsible procurement: fair prices and long-term trade relationships
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Sustainable production: improving yields sustainably
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Enabling environment: policies and consumer awareness
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Measuring what works
What’s the price of a living income?
Choose Fairtrade today
The ability to earn a decent living offers the next generation of farmers and workers a sustainable future. It will require everyone playing their part – including shoppers choosing to stand up for farmer and worker livelihoods.