What are the consequences of climate change for coffee production, for the people, for the beverage, indeed for the entire industry?
For 30 years, Fairtrade Max Havelaar has been trying to make the coffee trade fairer. But what does fair actually mean? What did it mean back then, and what does it mean today? And is what Fairtrade offers sufficient to accelerate real change?
Katja Schmittner is responsible for coffee at Fairtrade Max Havelaar. On one hand, she tries to bring more cooperatives on board, and on the other, she works to convince more roasteries of "fairly traded coffee".
How successful is Fairtrade in this regard? Fairtrade Max Havelaar is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and that is precisely why it is time to take a critical look back. I wanted to know from Katja Schmittner of Fairtrade what is fair today, whether the guaranteed minimum price is enough to live on, whether climate justice shouldn't be the new fair, and why not all certified coffee finds a market.
Coffee is part of climate change. We can all help determine whether it is more part of the solution or part of the problem.
Katja Schmittner in conversation with Philipp Schallberger
