Organic production and ethical trade: definition, practice and links

In recent years there has been a growing debate about ethical aspects of production and trade. This has evolved from concerns about fair trade, safe working conditions for producers and employees and sustainable and environmentally safe natural resource management. The principles of organic agriculture are wide ranging and include concerns for safe food production, for the environment, for animal welfare and for issues of social justice. A working definition of ethical trading, and an assessment of the links between organic production and ethical trading were obtained from 34 organisations in the UK involved in ethical or fair trading or organic agriculture. Interviewees were from major supermarkets, independent and multiple retailers, alternative trading organisations, importers, wholesalers, accreditation bodies, non-governmental development agencies and lobby groups. A definition of ethical trading based on the interviewees' responses is developed and discussed. The paper examines current practice in ethical and organic trading and assesses the role of the Ethical Trading Initiative and major supermarkets. Current and potential links between organic production and ethical trade are explored. Constraints to linking the two concepts more fully, both conceptual and practical, are evaluated. There is potential for organic production to be ethical, using the holistic definition given here, by the addition of social criteria to the standards of the organic regulatory authorities. Ethical trading is now becoming mainstream trading and internationally traded organic produce will therefore have to comply with the current view of what is ethical.