The challenges

Coffee, cocoa, tea and palm oil are almost exclusively produced in developing nations. In most of these regions, farming is more fate than choice. The financial and educational investments for agriculture are low, which leads to low production, environmental decline and poor labor conditions.

To break this cycle, farmers need to become equal business partners to the parties that buy their products. They need to adopt farming methods that improve working conditions while at the same time optimizing production and sparing the environment. They need to attain a position that allows them to negotiate a fair price for their products and a fair wage for their workers. Only when these criteria are met, can farming be a sustainable foundation for a vibrant rural society. This is the challenge that UTZ CERTIFIED is committed to.

Small team, great network

The challenge of creating sustainable farming worldwide is too large for any organization alone. That is why we form partnerships with organizations around the globe to help reach our common goal. We collaborate with small local farms and larger cooperatives, allowing each link in the chain to focus on their own strengths.

In 2010, UTZ CERTIFIED created a new Field Development department to facilitate these collaborations. The Field Development department works continuously to create new partnerships and strengthen existing ones. We thank all the organizations that are working on implementation of UTZ CERTIFIED requirements and invite those who want to start doing so. Interested parties can find the contact details here.