Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about fairtrade farmers and climate change.
I want to see continued cooperation with fairtrade farmers, not least to help them deal with the challenges posed by climate change. Under the former Government, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) worked closely with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Fairtrade Foundation, to understand fully the interests of Fairtrade farmers and workers, and to negotiate outcomes that support fair treatment of workers around the world.
The FCDO worked with organisations like the Fairtrade Foundation through its agriculture portfolio, which contains programmes that are designed to support farmers in the most vulnerable countries. For example, with UK International Climate Finance, the FCDO have supported the Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness programme, the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme, and other agriculture interventions.
I certainly encourage Ministers to ensure that FCDO officials continue to consult with the Fairtrade Foundation and other sector stakeholders to nurture better and fairer trade with countries right across the world.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Sincerely,
