Supporting fair trade is something green lifestylers, enthusiasts and beginners hear about often. The Fair Trade logo can be found on food, textiles and any item that meets the proper requirements. It is easy to see how this form of trade can stimulate economies and cultivate community, but it may not be as easy to see how it would also help the environment. Here are just a few ways that supporting fair trade is good for the environment as well as the economy.
Limited Chemical Usage
Over 60% of the items that meet Fair Trade requirements are organically grown. This means that by supporting Fair Trade you are supporting the organic farmers who cultivate the product. As Fair Trade organic production increases which stimulates the land and moves further away from the need of chemicals used for growth and production.
Efficient Land Usage
Organic farms and Fair Trade farms tend to be cultivated on smaller amounts of land. This means that farmers must use the land more efficiently. Intercropping is a common method used on these smaller farms along with livestock production. When livestock and crops are grown together the natural fertilizer produced by the livestock serves to help organic foods grow in a more natural state. Fewer chemical emissions are present because less farm equipment is being used to produce the food and maintain the livestock.
Creation of Sustainable Agriculture
The creation of sustainable agriculture that is created with Fair Trade meets two criteria of the Fair Trade Act. The first is that it shows environmental development but reducing chemicals and toxic emissions that are often found with farm or production equipment. The second criteria, economic development, is also met through Fair Trade. For economically underdeveloped countries the increase of Fair Trade creates jobs through organic production. The jobs created are designed to help farmers which in turn teaches farmers about efficient land usage. This efficient usage creates sustainable crops that allow for continued economic development and food resources to area natives.
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