Ethical agro‐food networks in global peripheries, Part I: The rise and recommodification of fair trade and organics

Abstract

AbstractRapid global growth of ethical agro‐food networks such as fair trade, organics, and geographical indications has been accompanied by an increasing volume of research, but, as yet, there has been little comparative or integrated study of these networks from the perspective of development geography. Focussing particularly on Latin America, this two‐part series of articles summarises the state of the art and proposes an integrated research agenda on the significance of ethical agro‐food networks as strategies for de‐commodification in global peripheries. The first article provides an overview of research on fair trade and organic networks, which has mainly focussed on export commodities such as coffee, cacao, and bananas. Despite evidence of some livelihood benefits from fair trade and organic networks for well‐organised small producers and their communities, these studies show a general tendency for recommodification and the capture of added value by powerful market players.