News and publications

Market studies: Quinoa and Tara

November 16th 2016

The Trade for Development Centre and the market consultants of Globally Cool conducted three market studies for which Autre Terre provided useful input about the quinoa and tara value chains. The results should help tara and quinoa cooperatives to gain (better) access to domestic and international markets. These studies map the current market situation for quinoa, tara gum and tara powder and also give a forecast. This gives producers all the information they need to develop a good marketing strategy.

Ethics and aesthetics: fair cosmetics

October 27th 2016

Ever heard of fair cosmetics? Thanks to these personal care and beauty products, producers are able to improve their own, and their family’s, living conditions.
Products made by and for women, combining ethics and aesthetics. A number of brands that attracted our attention are listed below.

On the road to sustainable palm oil? The soaring ambitions of the Belgian Alliance for Sustainable Palm Oil

October 27th 2016

Palm oil has unique properties which is why it is very much coveted by the food industry. But palm oil is also often associated with rampant deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia. To prevent this damage to the environment, the Belgian Alliance for Sustainable Palm Oil aims to work towards more sustainable cultivation.

Congolese coffee cooperatives assist victims of sexual violence

October 27th 2016

TDC in collaboration with two coffee cooperatives, a local NGO and BTC supported victims of sexual violence in eastern Congo. A trusted local player, the coffee cooperatives were able to restore the dignity of the victims and enable their economic and social reintegration.

Avituri: essentials from the soil of the Democratic Republic of Congo

October 27th 2016

Did you know that the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is home to one of the biggest aromatic oil producers? Avituri, a fair and organic cultivator and distiller, was able to double its production of geranium oil and expand its offer with other plants such as thyme thanks to TDC’s financial support.

Data capturing: collecting data to better understand the market

October 27th 2016

The main concern that arose from the evaluation of the first TDC marketing coaching series in 2014, was the high number of inadequate or incomplete application forms. These weakest organisations were not selected although they were most in need. TDC therefore decided to add a preliminary step to its marketing support by offering a mini-training to help cooperatives capture and understand their data to enable them to develop their marketing strategy.

Fair palm oil exists

October 27th 2016

While the palm oil industry is still investigating how to stop the destruction of human and environmental resources in South East Asia, fair alternatives already exist, such as palm oil projects in Ghana, Togo and Ecuador which have been certified and have obtained the Fair for Life label.

Cocoa: the white gold of Peru

September 21st 2016

In Europe, demand for dark chocolate is rising by at least 70%. This is good news for small cocoa farmers in Peru who grow a fine and tasty variety of cocoa in the traditional way. The TDC decided to support a number of Peruvian cocoa cooperatives to increase the quality of their production so that they can conquer a nice place in the market of high quality cocoa.

Thylbert : Kombucha, a delicious healing drink with social roots

May 30th 2016

Kombucha is an age-old elixir with healing properties. Thylbert, a company based in Beernem in Belgium, has been marketing the drink for more than fifteen years. Everything this company does, from the choice of ingredients to the people it employs, is permeated with a desire to be sustainable and fair.

Vital: the sweet taste of fair trade nougat

May 29th 2016

Montélimar is known as the city of nougat, but the origin of the nut sweet lies in ancient Persia, where nuts and honey were plentiful. Thanks to the Arabs it became known in Mediterranean countries, but it never really made it to Northern Europe. The man who introduced nougat in Belgium 90 years ago, Vital, gave his name to the company which a few years ago added fair trade nougat to its assortment.

Market studies: Quinoa and Tara

Ethics and aesthetics: fair cosmetics

On the road to sustainable palm oil? The soaring ambitions of the Belgian Alliance for Sustainable Palm Oil

Congolese coffee cooperatives assist victims of sexual violence

Avituri: essentials from the soil of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Data capturing: collecting data to better understand the market

Fair palm oil exists

Cocoa: the white gold of Peru

Vital: the sweet taste of fair trade nougat

Market studies: Quinoa and Tara

Ethics and aesthetics: fair cosmetics

On the road to sustainable palm oil? The soaring ambitions of the Belgian Alliance for Sustainable Palm Oil

Congolese coffee cooperatives assist victims of sexual violence

Avituri: essentials from the soil of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Data capturing: collecting data to better understand the market

Fair palm oil exists

Cocoa: the white gold of Peru

Vital: the sweet taste of fair trade nougat

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