Fair Trade USA has shared details of its Innovation for Impact Initiative, a project aimed at developing a more scalable, higher-impact Fair Trade Certified coffee program, according to Fair Trade USA. The nonprofit's mission is setting standards for products that promote sustainable livelihoods for farmers and workers while protecting the environment.
To drive this initiative, the company is partnering with social impact consulting firm IDEO.org which will engage producers and industry stakeholders in the design process, develop prototypes, help evaluate results, and support the roll out of new program features.
Fair Trade USA's announcement follows a recent stakeholder consultation and listening tour. Through surveys and interviews, it engaged more than 500 roasters, importers, and retailers, and nearly 400 producer organizations.
"Our recent listening tour uncovered overwhelming demand across stakeholder groups for program renewal," said Paul Rice, founder and CEO of Fair Trade USA, in a statement. "Coffee producers want to sell more volume on Fair Trade Certified terms. They understand that price alone will not solve their problems. The industry wants greater transparency and data on impact. All stakeholders want a stronger response to climate change. Fair Trade USA will focus on innovation that addresses these core challenges faced by industry and producers."
Fair Trade USA also welcomed the members of its new Coffee Impact Advisory Board which will provide input and guidance on the Innovation for Impact Initiative and help define support for new program solutions.
It is chaired by Rüdiger Meyer, the founder and former CEO of Flocert. Other members include:
• Lindsey Bolger, Former SVP and managing director of Keurig Trading, USA
• Jorge Cuevas, chief coffee officer at Sustainable Harvest Importers, USA
• Guido Fernandez, EVP of the Colombian Coffee Federation Inc., Colombia
• Carlos Murillo, President of Expocert, a Costa Rica-based coffee broker
• Alain Nzigamasabo, SVP and general merchandising manager for grocery and beverage at Sam's Club
• Abdias Ortiz, CEO of Aprocassi (Fair Trade Coffee Cooperative), Peru
• Angela Pelaez, sustainability manager at RGC Coffee Americas, Colombia
• Jérôme Perez, global head of sustainability at Nespresso, Switzerland
• Ivania Rivera, senior coffee trader at Aldea Global (Fair Trade Coffee Cooperative), Nicaragua
• Matt Smith, EVP of supply chain and sustainability at Westrock Coffee, USA
• Carlos Vargas, CEO of various Fair Trade Coffee Cooperatives, Costa Rica
"Cumulatively, Fair Trade USA has delivered over $1 billion in impact to farmers and workers worldwide," said Meyer in a statement. "To generate the next billion, we must enlist the best creative thinking of our global stakeholder community to renew the Fair Trade Certified coffee program."
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