Sugar. You probably have some in your kitchen – after all, it’s a key ingredient in so many of the foods and drinks we enjoy. But it’s not all sweet: small-scale sugar cane farmers face intense pressure from large-scale producers, price swings and climate change.
About 175 million tonnes of sugar are produced each year. The majority of that comes from sugar cane, with sugar beets in second place. Fairtrade works with small-scale sugar cane farmers to improve their bargaining position as well as their businesses and communities.
Sugar cane farmers grapple not only with price volatility, but also with competition from other sources. When the European Union decided to end caps on its own sugar beet production in 2017, small-scale sugar cane farmers around the world faced the prospect of losing a major market for their goods. Elsewhere, government subsidies to large-scale sugar producers in countries like Brazil, Mexico and Thailand further squeezed farmers in smaller states where governments cannot afford financial support to local production.
Beyond the markets, unpredictable droughts and heavy rains have hit sugar cane farmers hard. For farmers very invested in a single crop, adapting to the new norms of a changing climate is very challenging.
Fairtrade works with small-scale sugar cane farmers to expand their access to global markets and find new avenues for sales – including exploring biofuels and value-added goods like rum. As a result, the amount of sugar that farmers sell on Fairtrade terms has increased significantly in recent years.
Some of the revenues generated through Fairtrade have supported farmers to improve irrigation and drainage infrastructure as well as diversify their crops, providing an extra line of defence against tropical storms and droughts.
Here is more of what Fairtrade means to sugar cane farmers:
Taken in moderation, sugar can help us enjoy la dolce vita. When you stock up, opting for Fairtrade sugar can make a real difference in the livelihoods of tens of thousands of small-scale cane farmers.
Would you like to learn how many producer organizations are involved in Fairtrade Sugar? Or how many workers and farmers you can find per country? Visit our dedicated page with statistics on our Top 7 product dashboard
The information as part of the Fairtrade sugar map is based on sugar production indicator reports to monitor sugar cane production practices and performance. The map currently includes information about seven sugar origins. These annual production indicator reports were introduced in the Fairtrade cane sugar standards to enable producers to take measures to increase their competitiveness.
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