Organic production and ethical trade: definition, practice and links

In recent years there has been a growing debate about ethical aspects of pr oduction and trade. This has evolved from concerns about fair trade, safe w orking conditions for producers and employees and sustainable and environme ntally safe natural resource management. The principles of organic agricult ure are wide ranging and include concerns for safe food production, for the environment, for animal welfare and for issues of social justice. A workin g definition of ethical trading, and an assessment of the links between org anic production and ethical trading were obtained from 34 organisations in the UK involved in ethical or fair trading or organic agriculture. Intervie wees were from major supermarkets, independent and multiple retailers, alte rnative trading organisations, importers, wholesalers, accreditation bodies , non-governmental development agencies and lobby groups. A definition of e thical trading based on the interviewees' responses is developed and discus sed. 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 conc eptual and practical, are evaluated. There is potential for organic product ion to be ethical, using the holistic definition given here, by the additio n of social criteria to the standards of the organic regulatory authorities . Ethical trading is now becoming mainstream trading and internationally tr aded organic produce will therefore have to comply with the current view of what is ethical. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.