WELCOME

2023 was a game-changer for sustainability and human rights in food supply chains. Shocking investigations revealed widespread labour abuses, deforestation, and unfairness. Public outcry demanded brands take charge of their global chains, and long-awaited regulations finally arrived to hold them accountable.

This led to calls for more openness and teamwork throughout the supply chain. More and more, companies realised that profits built on exploitation are utterly unsustainable. True success requires ethical practices that lift up all stakeholders – from a small-scale farmer to the choosiest consumer.

At Fairfood, we’ve seen firsthand that cooperation requires treating small farmers as rational business owners, not just labourers. Derrick Komwangi of Uganda’s Ankole Coffee Producers Cooperative Union said it well: “Farmers will engage when requirements bring actual returns. The value of data lies in its potential to improve production and enhance farmers’ lives”.

Data is a key to success. That’s why Fairfood champions transparent supply chains where farmers can get their fair share with the help of data. As you’ll discover in this report, we partner with brands to digitise supply chains, trace products, and empower stakeholders with data.

Our ultimate goal is transparency that goes both ways. Ugandan coffee farmer Vincent Mushabe shared his hope: “We hope our cooperative can also get clear information from roasters, buyers, and consumers. What’s the price of a bag of beans or a cup of coffee in Europe? Knowing this would show us if the final buyers are being honest like us.”

Building fairer, transparent supply chains is truly a joint journey. By working together and talking things through, we can create systems that benefit everyone. Explore this report to discover the partnerships and solutions that brought us closer, in 2023, to the fairer world we all want.

Sander de Jong, managing director

This annual report has been approved by the Supervisory Board and an independent accountant on June 20th. Download the statement from the accountant here.