Description

In the 1990s and 2000s, particularly in parts of South America, numerous development projects were set up to help coffee producers improve their social and economic situation in a context of monopoly by private exporters. These projects aimed to increase the yield and quality of coffee in order to obtain a better price.

In 2006, one produced 3% of the world's coffee following fair trade principles: guaranteed minimum price for small producers, a democratic organization in cooperatives or associations, or financing of local development projects. However, does this trade enable local producers to solve their structural problems, i.e., poverty, lack of food, and major shortcomings in education and health?