Fair trade and staple foods: a strategy for sustainable development?

With the global population predicted to reach almost eleven billion by mid-century and the current global food system widely recognised to be failing economically, socially and environmentally, this thesis by publication addresses a shortfall in the existing literature on fair trade (FT) and staple foods. Staple foods include crops like rice, wheat, soy, maize, oats, potato, and quinoa. They are the basis of global diets and yet do not feature significantly in the list of FT certified products, unlike discretionary foods such as coffee, cocoa, and chocolate. This thesis investigates how mainstream FT organisations approach staples to highlight the potential sustainability benefits that might be gained – even where a modest share of the staple foods market transitioned to the FT model – as well as the potential challenges.
FT standards for food production and distribution represent an alternative model that seeks to rectify many conventional market externalities. With six decades of experience, this practical model of global sustainability governance delivers fairer prices, more stable small farmer incomes, decent work conditions, and more sustainable methods of production and consumption. With foundations in sustainability and ethical consumerism, this thesis seeks to answer the following research question: is there a greater role for staple foods in the FT movement to attain sustainable development?
To answer this question, six papers were written, with four published as peer reviewed articles or book chapters, and two under review. Employing a range of qualitative research methodologies, each publication addressed a key topic related to the thesis research question. Firstly, a grey literature review of FT’s corporate sustainability reports was undertaken to understand its sustainability aims and strategies. Second, a systematic literature review of the FT movement’s engagement with staple food products was completed. This was followed by a comparative analysis of case studies of small producers of rice and quinoa within an evolutionary economics perspective.
To better understand how the FT organisations operated, an analytical framework for sustainability governance was developed, which showed how mainstream FT organisations have responded to the dilemmas of democratic participation. Then, to learn more about how those with firsthand knowledge of FT schemes conceptualised the staples issue, semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders of the movement. Finally, the features of staple foods were analysed from within a global value chain perspective to examine how FT might integrate staples into its model, identifying barriers related to the need for large-scale production, storage, and transportation. The thesis discussion highlights how FT as a form of global sustainability governance has considerable potential to extend its impact by engaging with staples to the benefit of small and medium scale farmers in the Global South. More broadly, this research contributes theoretical and practical knowledge towards greening the global economy and supply chains as well as fostering sustainable development by informing decision-makers, policymakers, businesses, NGOs, producers, and consumers about FT’s staples potential.