Consumers, companies, and farmers attempt to make sense of their certification options
Part 3: Farmers struggle to summit
** This is the third article in a 3 part series **
Let's Review
Consumers increasingly value sustainable products. They like certifications but aren't especially loyal to one certification over another. Many feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of certifications on the market.
Companies typically consider certification schemes as part of a broader journey towards sustainability. Some companies are just beginning to incorporate certified ingredients whereas, on the other end of the spectrum, some companies consider certification to be a core part of their identity. And some companies have decided to incorporate principles from various certification schemes without becoming officially certified.
What about farmers?
How do they feel about gettin' certified?
Farmers + Certifications
Farmers (and factory workers) around the world are responsible for the food (and goods) that keep you healthy, happy, and, well, fed. In the US, we tend to think of our farmers as burly white guys tending to endless fields of wheat and corn somewhere in Kansas or Iowa. And, while that stereotype is not entirely untrue, it misses the broader reality of farmers worldwide.
In the US, the overwhelming majority of farms (98%) are family farms, and 56% of farms have at least one female decision maker. While there aren't as many as there should be, the number of farmers of color is on the rise.
Globally, there are an estimated 500 million smallholder farmers, each cultivating less than 5 acres, and many who survive on less than $2 a day. In fact, 40% of the world's population works in agriculture, making it the single largest employer on earth. Half of all farmers are women.
Unfortunately, farmers around the world face similar obstacles: limited access to credit and other financial services, limited access to agricultural inputs and technology, and limited or outdated knowledge. These issues are especially pronounced for female farmers, and are compounded by struggles for land ownership, and, of course, climate change.
Against this backdrop, companies are searching for farmers who are willing to become certified as organic, Non-GMO, Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance.... and so on.
Benefits
On the positive side, farmers receive a better price for certified material. This is partially due to market demand although many certification schemes tie the price of certified material to a certain amount over the price of conventional products.
Additionally, agricultural practices required by certification schemes, such as limited use of chemical fertilizers, are better for the environment. And, of course, a healthy environment is better for the long-term success of the farm (and planet).
Challenges
On the negative side, becoming certified is a long, complicated process. Transitioning away from conventional farming can take years and require a costly investment of time and resources. Farmers need to buy new equipment and learn new methods of farming.
During this period of transition, most farmers are unable to earn an income and so need to have significant savings or access to credit and loans to survive.
Of course, we should also acknowledge that certified farming tends to be more labor- and management-intensive than conventional farming. Most certification schemes prohibit the use of chemical fertilizers which, although great for the environment, mean the farmers have to work harder to control weeds and other pests with natural methods. Crop yields may also decrease on certified farms until farmers get the hang of natural fertilization methods.
Additionally, the market for certified material is unpredictable. While Organic or Fair Trade may be the hot trend now, it's hard to say if demand will continue to grow, remain the same, or drop off completely. A company may court certified farmers one minute and then leave them the next.
And, as new certification schemes enter the market, farmers feel pressured to take on new certificates sometimes while also maintaining their existing certifications.
Farmers are like rock climbers scrambling to the summit of certification mountains.
Although there's a reward for reaching the top, the path to get there is highly technical.
Not everyone has the skill or dedication to overcoming the obstacles ahead.
Sometimes, the reward isn't worth the risk.
Opportunity
Despite the challenges to becoming and remaining certified, there is hope.
Many companies interested in incorporating certification schemes into their offering are forming long-term partnerships with farmers in their supply chains. These partnerships start by establishing a guaranteed buyer (good news for farmers) and a guaranteed source of certified material (good news for companies).
To do this, companies invest in the farmer certification process. They may offer loans or credit, training, agricultural inputs and other resources. Often, this is done in collaboration with non-profit organizations and government agencies local to the farmers' area to ensure that assistance is appropriately tailored to the farmers' experience.
As an added bonus, companies who invest in their farmers build more resilient supply chains, mitigating against risk, and ensuring they have enough material to meet consumer demand.
Talk about a win-win-win.
Conclusions
Certifications can be a scramble for farmers as they try to navigate new rules and more demanding agricultural practices. This scramble becomes easier when companies invest in farmers, providing the support and encouragement needed to reach the certification summit.
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