Gender equality is vital to reach sustainable agricultural sector. As part of the Rainforest Alliance’s UTZ Sector Partnerships Program we brought together people from partner organizations – from grower association representatives to non-profit leaders – who learned five tools to identify gender gaps in coffee supply chains.
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What certified hazelnut farming is like in Georgia, the stories of Maka and Nana
How is UTZ certification affecting hazelnut farmers in Georgia? We traveled to this new production region and spoke with Maka Gergedava and Nana Gamisonia, two women farmers to find out. Read on to hear their stories and discover the sourcing advantages this country presents.
Voices from the Field
Going the extra mile: how cooperative COAGRICSAL in Honduras is fighting child labor across the country
Beyond improving farming practices, farmer groups can also play an important role in fighting norms within their communities. COAGRICSAL, a coffee and cocoa coop in Honduras, is doing just that. We talk with sustainability manager, Roberto Lopez, to find out about the work they’re doing to stop child labor across the country.
Voices from the Field
More than just a delicious beverage – insights from Roberto Lopez, sustainability manager in Honduras
We talked with Roberto Lopez, sustainability manager at the COAGRICSAL cooperative in Honduras, about the challenges and rewards of his job supporting coffee and cocoa farmers across the region. He explains their motivations for certification, the role of companies in the supply chain, what’s in store for the future and more.
Voices from the Field
How one Indian coffee farmer group protects nature, empowers farmers and sets an example across a region
The Western Ghats Sustainable Farming Consortium is a coffee smallholder group in India dedicated to preserving the unique biodiversity of their region. We speak with Thribuvan Sathvik, member of the consortium, about how certification has improved their practices and how it’s empowering farmers to get more for their products.
Voices from the Field
“Market connections built my business” – Juan Pablo Echeverri, Colombian coffee farmer
In the early 2000s, coffee was in crisis. Colombian coffee farmer Juan Pablo Echeverri knew market connections were key to his business success. So he joined the UTZ progam, and is still enjoying the benefits today. “Certification opens doors. It’s up to you whether to walk through them or not.”
Voices from the field
“We cannot leave farmers to walk alone”
Agung Widi, from Kalimajari, a civil society organization working with cocoa farmers and Kerta Semaya Samaniya cocoa cooperative in Jembrana, Indonesia, explains how certification helped them become one of the top 50 cocoa producers in the world.
The UTZ-Rainforest Alliance merger; a sustainability homecoming
Ria Stout, Chief Regional Officer of the new Rainforest Alliance, wrote UTZ’s first certification standard. She has dedicated her life to both organizations, which are now joining forces to amplify and accelerate sustainability transformation around the world. She sheds her light on the exciting journey.
Voices from the Field
On the ground in Turkey: Daria’s four-day hazelnut diary
Daria Koreniushkina is back from her field trip to Turkey. After four days of visiting hazelnut processing facilities, farms and speaking with UTZ partners throughout the region, she shares the key takeaways from her time in the field.
Voices from the Field
In their shoes: three perspectives on working in hazelnuts
What is it like to be a member of the UTZ hazelnut program in Turkey? Does it change a way of thinking and what does it bring to farmers and workers? We take a walk in the shoes of exporter Şenocak and the farmers Hamza Furtun and Sabahattin Ilgun to find out.
