Ethical Sourcing in the Global Food System

* Can ethical sourcing genuinely address the problems facing workers and producers in developing countries? * Detailed case studies explore fair and ethical trade systems in diverse countries and sectors, allowing a balanced analysis of this global phenomenon * A wealth of analysis and discussion from the foremost academics and practitioners working in ethical sourcing Ethical sourcing, both through fair trade and ethical trade, is increasingly entering the mainstream of food retailing. Large supermarkets have come under pressure to improve the returns to small producers and conditions of employment within their supply chains. But how effective is ethical sourcing? Can it genuinely address the problems facing workers and producers in developing countries? Is it a new form of northern protectionism, or can Southern initiatives be developed to advance the monitoring and verification effectiveness of ethical sourcing? How can the rights and participation of workers and small producers be enhanced, given the power and dominance of large supermarkets within the global food chain?

This book brings together a range of academics and practitioners working on issues of ethical sourcing in the global food chain. It critically explores the opportunities and challenges of ethical sourcing in the global food system by combining analysis and case studies that examine a range of approaches. It explores whether ethical sourcing is a cosmetic northern initiative, or it can genuinely help to improve the conditions of small producers and workers in developing countries.