The Fairtrade Foundation’s patron - BBC newsreader George Alagiah – addressing the public at the launch of the Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 campaign on London’s South Bank.
The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation provided a grant of £40,000 to cover core costs and funding for a Liaison Officer in Africa in 2007/08.
Core costs
As a result of The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation’s support of our core costs fantastic results have been achieved across the board in 2007/08:
• Annual sales of Fairtrade certified products approached £500 million by the end of 2007.
• 7 million farmers, workers and their families are now benefiting from the growth of Fairtrade globally.
• Public awareness of Fairtrade hits 70% through a range of innovative campaigns such as Fairtrade Towns, Schools, Universities and Faith groups.
• Supermarkets and major brands are increasingly throwing their support behind Fairtrade: during 2007 Tate and Lyle committed to switching all their sugar to Fairtrade by 2009; Sainsbury’s has converted 100% of its own label tea (a move equivalent to 10% of the total UK tea market); while the Coop has switched its entire range of hot beverages to Fairtrade.
• New product development: the Foundation is working to develop key new products including Fairtrade certified Olive Oil, Jute and pulses such as beans.
• 63% of the UK public see Fairtrade as the most effective and manageable way to reduce poverty in the developing world – compared to the next closest category ‘Donating to development charities’ at 46% effectiveness (OC&C Strategy Consultants 2007).
• The Fairtrade Foundation has developed a new five year strategy - ‘Tipping the Balance’ – outlining the steps required to truly transform trade for the benefit of developing world producers.
Liaison Officer
• There are currently a total of 19 certified farms in Kenya and Tanzania and an additional 19 farms that are currently in the application process.
• A total of 83.4 millions stems of Fairtrade flowers were sold in the UK market in 2007, an increase of 76% from 2006.
• The Liaison Officer is providing support to certified producers to remain in the system through advising on certification decisions.
• Since the beginning of November 2007 the Liaison Officer has visited all the certified flower farms in Kenya and Tanzania and has provided Fairtrade awareness sessions, training of Joint Bodies and advised groups on the management of their Fairtrade Premium.
• The Liaison Officer has provided guidance to new applicants with the aim of them becoming Fairtrade certified.
Visit the Fairtrade Foundation website.