Buying green and social from abroad: Are biomassfocused voluntary sustainability standards useful for European public procurement?

European public procurement is becoming more sustainable. However, for goods with global supply chains, sustainable procurement faces several challenges. This paper highlights the sustainability challenges for biomass-based products, discusses the suitability of biomass-focused voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) to address them, and identifies experiences and knowledge gaps in the use of VSS in European public procurement. The paper is based on a comprehensive literature review and a case study. Biomass-based products can have major negative environmental and social impacts in their global supply chains. Biomass-focused VSS using third-party certification, contribute to avoiding such hazards. VSS are used by public procurers to (i) establish sustainability criteria for tender offers, (ii) minimize risks, and (iii) verify compliance with their criteria. Large knowledge gaps exist with respect to increasing sustainability of procurement. The impact of sustainably procured goods as well as of more recently created biomass-based VSS is uncertain. The strictness level of VSS necessary to deliver the desired sustainability effects is not clear. Large data gaps exist, e.g., how frequently which type of VSS is used for which products and for what reasons, and where procurers compromise between desired traits and limited market offers. This information would support a dialogue between procurers, business, and policy makers to stimulate markets towards more sustainable products

Certification as an upgrading strategy for small-scale farmers and their cooperatives : a value chain analysis for Nicaraguan coffee

For many small producers in developing countries coffee is a major income source. However, the coffee market is characterized by high price volatility and increased power concentration among buyers in consuming countries. Due to the very low international coffee prices during the recent coffee crisis and an increased demand among consumers for healthy and ethical products as well as for high quality, interest in standards and certification has increased substantially in coffee producing and consuming countries. Responding to the demand for differentiated products and accessing these new and potentially more profitable markets is especially challenging for poor small-scale farmers in developing countries. Although certification schemes and standards are widely applied and promoted, little research has been conducted identifying the complete value chains for certified coffee, their structure and gross income shares among the different chain actors. The framework for this study is based on the value chain concept. The research analyses selected conventional and Fairtrade value chains in terms of prices paid at different levels, information flows among chain actors, governance structures and upgrading strategies. The focus is on Nicaragua?s small-scale coffee producers, organised in cooperatives, and their upgrading strategies with special attention paid to organic and Fairtrade certification. Qualitative interviews have been conducted with all relevant chain actors. Results show that the structure of the value chain has a major influence on the benefits for individual farmers and their involvement in upgrading strategies. Although higher prices are paid to producers for organic-Fairtrade coffee than for conventional or conventional Fairtrade coffee, the producers? share on the final retail price is substantially lower in the certified chains than in the conventional chain. Producers face limited bargaining power on the quality premiums paid by buyers in consuming countries. The paper emphasizes the need for transparency and appropriate chain management to improve small-scale farmers? integration in value chain upgrading activities. An enhanced knowledge transfer among chain actors could increase farmers? understanding of differentiated markets and provide them with information on the coffee attributes sought by consumers. Being able to meet consumer expectations on attributes and quality standards could empower farmers with greater bargaining power and enable them to demand adequately higher prices. Simultaneously, business skills and management capacity need to be enhanced especially at the level of producers and leaders of grassroot cooperatives, but also at second order cooperatives? staff

Risk management networks of ethnic minorities in Viet Nam

The utilization of informal social networks is an important risk management strategy of vulnerable households in South-East Asia. To gain insight on this issue, a social network analysis (SNA) was implemented to assess risk management networks of ethnic minority farm households in the northern uplands of Viet Nam. The results from the analysis suggest that kinship relations and the level of wealth play an essential role in enabling basic network services to function. This paper also points out that effective networks require investments to fulfil the requested mutual obligations and that subsequently, social networks among poor farmers are relatively limited. The findings of the analysis show, not surprisingly, that networks cannot completely buffer severe shocks. Consequently, policy measures to reduce the costs of investing in social capital of poor farmers as well as improved access to appropriate social security systems are essential. These findings are applicable to other upland areas of South-East Asia.-

Food Security Standard : Principles, Criteria and Indicators

International demand for agricultural commodities is growing due to population growth, changes in consumption patterns and the current shift from petroleum-based to bio-based economies. This can have adverse effects, particularly in food insecure countries, as agricultural production for export can often compete with local food production while also encouraging labor exploitation, environmental pollution and resource depletion. Importing countries are becoming more concerned about the environmental and social impacts that imported products have had in their countries of origin. Sustainability standards and certification systems are recognized as valid instruments to address biomass sustainability issues. Nevertheless, the issue of food security has only been partially addressed, due to its complexity and the difficulty in allocating responsibility between individuals, the private sector and governments. The Food Security Standard (FSS) provides a practical instrument for demonstrating that the “right to food” enjoyed by farm workers, smallholder farmers and local communities impacted by agricultural production is respected. It is designed to be integrated in any existing sustainability standard in the agricultural sector and is applicable to all biomass types and uses, farm sizes and business types. The FSS includes a set of 17 Food Security Principles, 35 Criteria and 93 Indicators that build on the rights-based food security principles and criteria formulated by Mohr et al. (2015), the Human Right to Adequate Food, the definition of food security by the World Food Summit (1996) and the Right to Food Guidelines adopted by the FAO Council in 2004. The FSS is a joint initiative of WWF Germany, the Center for Development Research (ZEF) of the University of Bonn (ZEF) and the Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e. V. (WHH)

Linkages between poverty and sustainable agricultural and rural development in the uplands of Southeast Asia

Most of the upland areas of Southeast Asia are characterized by insufficient infrastructure, low productivity in smallholder crop and animal production, mounting environmental problems such as soil and forest degradation and loss of biodiversity, increasing population pressure, and widespread poverty, particular in rural areas. While some upland areas in South East Asia have been experiencing considerable progress during the past twenty years, others have stagnated or even declined with respect to economic, social and environmental objectives of development. The purpose of the paper is to describe major trends regarding sustainable development in the upland areas of selected countries in South East Asia, and review explanatory approaches for the observed trends based on case studies from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The conceptual framework for this paper builds on the critical triangle of sustainable rural development. Here, equity or poverty alleviation, economic growth, and the protection of the environment are the three major policy objectives. We further distinguish three explanatory approaches for land use change and agricultural and rural development. Apart from the market approach and the population approach, we suggest that future studies should focus more on governance issues as a major driving force of land use change. The governance approach appears particularly relevant for upland areas which are often politically and institutionally marginalized. The paper begins with a review of definitions of sustainability, and proceeds with a conceptual analysis of the two-way linkages between poverty and the environment, and poverty and economic growth in rural areas. This is followed by empirical findings from research on agriculture and forestry as the major land uses in upland areas of selected South East Asian countries. Based on the results of different case studies from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Indonesia, we seek to contrast stories of relative success with those of failure. The paper concludes with implications for rural and agricultural development policies, and suggests future areas of research

A rights-based food security principle for biomass sustainability standards and certification systems

With the shift from petroleum-based to biomass-based economies, global biomass demand and trade is growing. This trend could become a threat to food security. Though rising concerns about sustainability aspects have led to the development of voluntary certification standards to ensure that biomass is sustainably produced, food security aspects are hardly addressed as practical criteria and indicators lack. The research objective of this working paper is to identify how the Human Right to adequate Food (RtaF), which is applicable in over 100 countries, can be ensured in local biomass production and in certification systems in food insecure regions. We aim to first develop a suitable conceptual framework to integrate the RtaF in biomass production, processing and trade and derive guidance for the choice of the criteria. Second, we identify appropriate criteria to ensure that the RtaF is not violated by certified biomass operators based on a comprehensive literature review, stakeholder workshops and expert interviews with certification bodies, standard initiatives, NGOs, ministries, scientists and enterprises. The conceptual framework is based on the UN “Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the RtaF in the Context of National Food Security” and the four dimensions of food security. Based on this framework, we developed the rights-based food security principle. To ensure that the RtaF is not adversely affected by certified biomass production and trade, we propose 45 criteria, classified in 17 themes which are derived from the voluntary guidelines. The suggested criteria are applicable to all biomass types and uses and serve as a best-practice set to complement existing sustainability standards for biomass

Factores de adopción y abandono del sistema de agricultura de conservación en los valles altos de México

Under the conditions found in México, it is necessary to increase agricultural productivity with sustainable technologies such as farming systems based on the principles of conservation agriculture (CA). However, although the benefits of this technology have already been shown, until today it has rarely been tested and adopted by small and medium producers, and some have abandoned it during this process. Current studies are focused on analyzing factors for adoption, and they almost do not discuss the factors for abandonment. The objective of this study was to understand the adoption factors and, at the same time, determine the causes for abandoning the CA system in México. The research was based on semi-structured interviews, field observations and informal interviews with producers in México’s High Valleys. The results show that the adoption factors are, primarily, greater fertility and texture of the soil, and a reduction in production costs. The abandonment factors are related mainly with the lack of technical accompaniment and uncertainty regarding the use of the plot. Finally, the lack of appropriate machinery for CA, such as sowers, becomes a restriction for adoption of the system, but not the cause for abandonment. In order to facilitate the adoption of CA, it is advisable to include the local authorities in the process of technological innovation, to attain local support.En las condiciones de México, es necesario incrementar la productividad del agro con tecnologías sustentables, tales como los sistemas agrícolas basados en los principios de la agricultura de conservación (AC). Sin embargo, aunque ya se han demostrado los beneficios de esta tecnología, hasta hoy ha sido poco probada y adoptada por pequeños y medianos productores, y en ese proceso algunos la han abandonado. Las investigaciones actuales se enfocan a analizar los factores de adopción, y casi no discuten los factores de abandono. El objetivo de este estudio fue entender los factores de adopción y, al mismo tiempo, determinar las causas del abandono del sistema de AC en México. La investigación se basó en entrevistas semi-estructuradas, observaciones de campo y entrevistas informales a productores en los Valles Altos de México. Los resultados muestran que los factores de adopción son principalmente mejor fertilidad y textura del suelo, y reducción de costos de producción. Los factores de abandono están relacionados principalmente con la falta de acompañamiento técnico y la incertidumbre sobre el uso de la parcela. Finalmente, la falta de maquinaria apropiada para la AC, como son las sembradoras, se convierte en una limitante para la adopción del sistema, pero no es causa del abandono. Para facilitar la adopción de AC, es recomendable incluir a las autoridades locales en el proceso de la innovación tecnológica para tener un respaldo local

Can coffee cultivation lead to food security under a changing climate evidence from Western Honduras

Understand how coffee value chain actors address food insecurity of coffee households under climate stress

Adding a gender lens in quantitative development research on food and non-food biomass production: A guide for sex-disaggregated data collection

A major objective of socio-economic research for agricultural development is to understand, guide and measure technology adoption, support agricultural and rural development policies, and analyse impacts of technological innovations, development projects and policy interventions. Research has clearly shown that gender matters in agricultural development, since women as well as gender issues play a major role in achieving success and impact, especially in family-based production systems. However, there are large data and thus considerable knowledge gaps in this regard. This guide equips you with plenty of advice to collect sex-disaggregated data and add a gender lens to your socio-economic research in the agricultural sector. It makes you familiar with the need for and advantages of sex-disaggregated data and research, it introduces gender concepts and important definitions and provides practical advice for the planning process of your research and for conducting field work. It identifies six key topics where gender plays a major role in the food and non-food biomass production such as the labour division in farming systems, adoption of technologies and impacts, access to and control over resources and assets, access to information and advisory services, and gendered livelihoods. The guide provides you with a wide choice of quantitative survey questions that can be integrated into your questionnaire based on your research needs. There are 40 minimum questions and many advanced questions to choose from so that you can incorporate a perspective on women's and men's farming activities and agricultural livelihoods into your research. The minimum questions in each section help you to cover the most important gender-related aspects of the specific agricultural topic, while the advanced questions will help you to explore a research area or aspect through the gender lens in more detail. Of course, the questions need to be adapted to the local contexts and circumstances. Integrating some of these questions in your research will help you to upgrade your research outputs by producing information that draws attention and that meets current standards of international research and development agendas. To meet such expectations, it remains important that not only relevant questions are included in your questionnaire and considerations of sex and gender are applied while conducting your survey, but also that the sex-disaggregated perspective needs to guide your analysis. Having a detailed sex-disaggregated analysis is attractive for high-ranking scientific journals, and supports your project outcomes with regard to adoption and sustainability of project activities and/or technologies

Certification as an upgrading strategy for small-scale farmers and their cooperatives : a value chain analysis for Nicaraguan coffee

For many small producers in developing countries coffee is a major income source. However, the coffee market is characterized by high price volatility and increased power concentration among buyers in consuming countries. Due to the very low international coffee prices during the recent coffee crisis and an increased demand among consumers for healthy and ethical products as well as for high quality, interest in standards and certification has increased substantially in coffee producing and consuming countries. Responding to the demand for differentiated products and accessing these new and potentially more profitable markets is especially challenging for poor small-scale farmers in developing countries. Although certification schemes and standards are widely applied and promoted, little research has been conducted identifying the complete value chains for certified coffee, their structure and gross income shares among the different chain actors. The framework for this study is based on the value chain concept. The research analyses selected conventional and Fairtrade value chains in terms of prices paid at different levels, information flows among chain actors, governance structures and upgrading strategies. The focus is on Nicaragua’s small-scale coffee producers, organised in cooperatives, and their upgrading strategies with special attention paid to organic and Fairtrade certification. Qualitative interviews have been conducted with all relevant chain actors. Results show that the structure of the value chain has a major influence on the benefits for individual farmers and their involvement in upgrading strategies. Although higher prices are paid to producers for organic-Fairtrade coffee than for conventional or conventional Fairtrade coffee, the producers’ share on the final retail price is substantially lower in the certified chains than in the conventional chain. Producers face limited bargaining power on the quality premiums paid by buyers in consuming countries. The paper emphasizes the need for transparency and appropriate chain management to improve small-scale farmers’ integration in value chain upgrading activities. An enhanced knowledge transfer among chain actors could increase farmers’ understanding of differentiated markets and provide them with information on the coffee attributes sought by consumers. Being able to meet consumer expectations on attributes and quality standards could empower farmers with greater bargaining power and enable them to demand adequately higher prices. Simultaneously, business skills and management capacity need to be enhanced especially at the level of producers and leaders of grassroot cooperatives, but also at second order cooperatives’ staff