Insights

Leading companies are grappling with what their responsibility toward a “Living Income” for farmers they source from might mean, as extreme poverty is increasingly seen as a human rights issue.

From blockchain to big data, there are hundreds of shiny apps and software on offer in today’s data-centric world. Every month new technology companies sprout up promising solutions for supply chain management, risk mitigation, and sustainable sourcing. How can you make the right decision? 

New apps are not only bringing vital information to small farmers, they are increasingly driving their participation in a rich digital eco-system. With the average farmer in the developing world surpassing 60 years of age, these impactful technologies help engage younger farmers in productive ways.

COSA and the Ethical Tea Partnership reviewed more than 100 studies by academics, government experts, and certification bodies to agree on a common list and description of indicators.

Driven by the world’s largest foundation and engaging some of the best minds, we are putting together one of the most unique efforts to radically transform smallholder farming.

The COSA Measuring Sustainability Report: Coffee and Cocoa in 12 Countries surprised many in 2014 with its hard data and frank insights, the result of partnered research with leading institutions.

For intelligent rural investments with sustainable practices, it is critical to understand the influential factors as well as historic lessons from decades of development literature.

Traceability is the foundation for any sustainability program. But tracing the chain of custody back to the small producer (the first mile) rarely happens. Simple technologies now demonstrate that it can be done and we can see that it has considerable value for any sustainability-oriented approach.

Leading financial investors can see the writing on the wall, says UN chief economist, noting new directions among major investors even as 2018 has been a tough year for sustainability.

When well-executed, private sustainable sourcing programs can offer substantial value. Some approaches designed by firms can raise concerns about whether they offer much benefit to producers and the environment, or, they are little more than compliance checklists. However, they can also be effective in their design and execution so that they offer substantial value to both the suppliers and the firm. Our long history of successfully designing company programs and strategies has yielded useful lessons of what to do and what NOT to do in these eight key steps to sustainable sourcing.