1. © Fairtrade 2012

2. On the Trail
of Fairtrade
Cotton
• Fairtrade International and Max Havelaar France
partnered with Artisans de Film to put the spotlight on US-
GPC de Kédougou, a Fairtrade-certified small producer
organization in Senegal.
• Watch the entire film at
www.vimeo.com/fairtradeinternational.
• Share the film with your friends and family!
• Film made with the
support of the
European Union
© Fairtrade 2012
Fairtrade Cotton – November 2012

3. Ismane Diallo,
Cotton farmer
N’débou Village
Senegal
© Fairtrade 2012

4. Did you
know?
FACTS
ABOUT • An estimated that 100 million households are involved in
COTTON > cotton production around the world.
• For many farmers, cotton is the only means of income.
• Cotton used to be called “white gold” in the 1960s
because it boosted export revenue and rural development.
• Cotton’s share of the world’s textile fiber use today is
down to 40%.
© Fairtrade 2012
Fairtrade Cotton – November 2012

5. Did you
know?
FACTS
ABOUT • Only 25% of cotton is produced in countries like Benin,
Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad, where natural conditions
COTTON >
are ideal for its cultivation.
• In other countries that don’t have this natural advantage,
cotton is heavily subsidized leaving poorer farmers at a
disadvantage.
• Conventional cotton growing depends heavily on the use
of agro-chemicals.
© Fairtrade 2012
Fairtrade Cotton – November 2012

6. In 2005 Fairtrade
cotton made its
debut on the
market
Harvesting Cotton
in Senegal
© Fairtrade 2011
2012

7. Fairtrade
Cotton
• Cotton farmers, workers and their families in Mali,
Senegal, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Uganda, India, Kyrgyzstan
and Brazil are benefitting from Fairtrade certification
• 8,223 metric tonnes of Fairtrade cotton were sold in 2011,
nearly 20% of that organic.
• 97% of all Fairtrade cotton comes from India and countries
in West & Central Africa.
© Fairtrade 2012
Fairtrade Cotton – November 2012

8. How Fairtrade
Cotton Helps
Communities
• Increased income through higher prices and long-term
trade deals.
• A Fairtrade Premium allowing farmers to make community
investments according to their priorities.
• Restricted use of agrochemicals and genetically-modified
varieties to protect the health of farmers and workers
• Children have better chances to continue their schooling.
• Democratic decision-making encouraged by cooperatives.
© Fairtrade 2012

9. Kadiatou Diallo
Cotton Farmer
Boundoukony
Village,
Senegal
© Fairtrade 2012

10. Fairtrade
Cotton
Markets
• The range of products currently offered on Fairtrade terms
includes household textiles, bags, garments and baby
clothes.
• The UK, France and Switzerland are the primary markets,
but Germany, Finland, Denmark and Japan are growing
quickly.
• In 2008, 27 million garments from Fairtrade cotton were
sold worldwide.
© Fairtrade 2012
Fairtrade Cotton – November 2012

11. Challenges
for the
Fairtrade
cotton
growers
• Subsidies by leading cotton trading countries continue to
exert pressure on global cotton prices punishing
producers in developing countries.
• A lack of secure markets to sustain the long-term
relationship with farmers.
• Fairtrade farmers, as well as all cotton farmers in
developing countries, need more sales on fairer terms to
improve their quality of life.
• Fairtrade is working to optimize the cotton value chain to
help cotton producers sell greater quantities on Fairtrade
terms and deliver more benefit to their communities.
© Fairtrade 2012
Fairtrade Cotton – November 2012

12. Samale Diallo
Cotton farmer
N’Débou Village
Senegal
© Fairtrade 2011
2012

13. Fairtrade
around
the world
The international Fairtrade system is a global effort
dedicated to ensuring a better deal for farmers and
workers.
•Fairtrade International (FLO) – www.fairtrade.net
•The Fairtrade Producer Networks -
www.fairtrade.net/producer_networks.html
•National Fairtrade Organizations -
http://www.fairtrade.net/labelling_initiatives1.html
© Fairtrade 2012

14. Fairtrade Cotton – November 2012