mr emile nadeau: white paper on coop2coop trade
DESCRIPTION
Mr Emile Nadeau, OCDC, US, at the International Co-operative Alliance Global Conference in Cape Town, November 2013.TRANSCRIPT
Linking Smallholder Producers in Developing Countries withConsumer Co-ops in Developed Countries
Coop to Coop Trade
Prepared by E.G. Nadeau for the U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council
• Conduct overview of co-op to co-op trade focusing on food products from co-ops of small-scale producers
• Draw lessons, make recommendations for growing trade
• Help develop objectives for Blueprint for the Cooperative Decade
Purpose
• Interviews with approximately 40 people knowledgeable in international co-op trade
• Documentary & Internet research
Research
1. Overview of international co-op to co-op food trade
2. Five international trade case studies
3. Recommendations for future co-op to co-op trade
Three Chapters
Small holder farmers
• 450 million smallholder farmers cultivate < 2 hectares
Major Findings
• < 10% linked to export value chains
• Average annual income < $600
Retail food co-ops
• 80+ million food co-op members in developed countries
Major Findings
• $150 billion in sales, less than 1% from products imported from small farmer co-ops
Retail food co-ops
• U.K.’s The Co-operative Group very involved, especially with fair-trade-certified products
• Co-op Italia committed to fair-trade products under Solidal Coop brand
Major Findings
Retail food co-ops
• Some U.S. co-op to co-op trade with fair-trade emphasis
• Similar experience in Canada
Major Findings
• Limited involvement by food co-ops in other developed nations
Retail food co-ops
• Significant interest in co-op to co-op trade from consumer co-op leaders, members
Major Findings
Fair trade• Certification goal:
provide fair return• 2011 fair-trade sales
worldwide: $7 billion• Standards issues may
reduce trust in label
Major Findings
Producer co-ops• Unaware of product
marketing through consumer co-ops
Major Findings
• Key goals: decent, stable prices, trusted channels
Co-op development organizations• Small number provide assistance to
smallholder ag co-ops• Even smaller number promote, assist
with co-op to co-op trade
Major Findings
The Co-operative Group• Beyond Fair Trade program helps
build capacity of producer co-ops in fair-trade supply chain
5 Case Studies
Coop Trading• Owned by consumer
co-ops in Denmark, Finland, Norway
5 Case Studies
• Sources environmentally friendly, fair-trade products
Smallholder project• Grows non-GMO
soybeans in Mozambique
5 Case Studies
• Initiated by Norwegian ag co-op, Norwegian government
‘Tower of labels’• Challenges of
messages for food co-op members
5 Case Studies
NCBA/CLUSA• Long-term projects in Indonesia &
East Timor to promote smallholder product exports
#1• 2014-2020 ICA campaign to
significantly increase co-op to co-op trade
3 Recommendations
#2• Establishment of cooperative
development resource center by ICA, co-op development organizations
3 Recommendations
#3• Develop strategies, measurable
objectives for co-op to co-op trade in Blueprint for a Cooperative Decade
3 Recommendations
Excellent potential for international co-op community to dramatically increase co-op to co-op trade by 2020
Conclusion