Peru

Fair trade, child labour and schooling in the coffee industry

Critics of trade agreements argue that globalization puts smallholder farmers in developing countries at risk. Given their poverty and lack of technology, rural producers can’t compete with foreign products on the domestic market. In response, rural farmers can pursue niche markets for highvalue products, particularly those related to fair trade. “Fair trade is something that everyone has on their minds, but the literature is not clear on whether it affects the livelihoods of farmers,” said Ana Dammert.

Through this project, Dr. Dammert travelled to coffee regions in Peru, meeting with cooperatives and managers to explore the potential for fair trade. She also contacted farmers in these cooperatives to gather information about their perceptions of fair trade and child labour. Using her findings, she successfully applied for a SSHRC grant.