Odyssey Magazine Issue 4, 2015 | Page 85

IMAGE: ecofriend.com A ccording to the 2013 UN Commission on Trade and Development's (UNCTAD) report entitled 'Trade and Environment Review: Wake up before it's too late', a key element of future food security may rest with small-scale farming, which needs to be an integral part of the solution to the environmental impact of industrial agriculture. The overwhelming majority of coffee, cocoa and sugar production in developing countries - three of the main products Fairtrade certifies - is grown on small-scale farms, and a report by the German Agency for International Co-operation confirms that, globally, 500 million small-scale farms feed about two billion people. Empowering such farmers into becoming more professional and sustainabilitysavvy can have a significant impact not only on food security, but also on the well-being of our environment and the economy. In South Africa, while the value of empowering rural farming communities is still fairly underestimated, the growth in the sale of Fairtrade labelled products shows that consumers want to support farmers that are local and that use sustainable farming methods. And where there is demand, there will be supply. Fairtrade certifies small-scale farmers against internationally recognised Fairtrade Standards, which promote both socio-economic and environmental development. Fairtrade's environmental principles focus on adopting sustainable farming practices, in so doing protecting producers' health and safety, maintaining soil fertility and conserving water resources. In essence, Fairtrade places small-scale farmers into the area of agro-ecological farming, which links ecology, culture, economics and society in a way that sustains farming production, healthy environments and viable farming communities. Last but not least, it bans the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and dangerous chemicals. Is small scale-farming the answer to a greener, more food-secure future? Arianna Baldo, Executive Director of Fairtrade Label South Africa, reports. According to UNCTAD's report, the productivity benefits achieved through the use of GMOs are largely lost when compared to agro-ecological practises. Another consideration around GMO farming is the prevalent use of the herbicide known as glyphosate, which is also used as a weed killer in cities. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has recently classified glyphosate as 'probably carcinogenic to humans'. These concerns, recently backed by the World Health Organisation as well, have led Fairtrade International to seriously consider the inclusion of glyphosate in Fairtrade's Prohibited Material List. The revision process is currently in the consultation stage, and advice is sought from both farmers and industry experts such as the Pesticide Action Network. While opinion on the use of chemicals such as glyphosate is still divided, if there is a way to empower ODYSSEY 85 •  DIGIMAG