Corporate implementation of certification and its impact on cocoa producers in Indonesia

IF 1.4 3区 经济学 Q2 DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
Janne Bemelmans, Charline Depoorter, Miet Maertens
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Motivation

Despite the growing reliance on voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) to increase sustainability in food supply chains, their effectiveness in delivering benefits to smallholders varies across contexts. VSS are implemented through certification schemes which are operated by producers, cooperatives, or processing companies, and heterogeneity in these schemes influences outcomes, but to what degree and how remains poorly understood.

Purpose

We investigate how the implementation of Rainforest Alliance (RA) and Cocoa Life (CL) certification of cocoa producers in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, varies across four different multinational companies, three with RA certification and one with CL certification. We examine the effects of differential implementation of corporate certification schemes on cocoa production and returns to farmers.

Approach and methods

We use qualitative data from 46 key informant interviews and four focus group discussions with certified producers to describe differences in the implementation of VSS in four corporate certification schemes. We use quantitative survey data from 598 smallholder cocoa producers to estimate overall and scheme-specific effects of certification on cocoa production and producer returns. We deploy inverse probability weighted regression adjustments to correct for selection bias.

Findings

Service delivery related to the implementation of certification by the four companies varied considerably, especially in the payment of premiums, training, provision of material support, and access to company-associated collectors (not all certified beans were sold to company collectors). CL certification had no significant impact on production and returns; however, RA certification was associated with higher cocoa yield, price, income, and returns to land—although not evenly for the three corporate schemes that implement RA certification. The observed increases in yields and prices were achieved through different channels in different schemes. Price increases depended above all on the sale of certified beans to collectors associated with the company, rather than to independent traders.

Policy implications

Food processing and distribution companies which operate corporate-driven certification schemes are largely responsible for the effective implementation of VSS. Improving the transparency and accountability of companies in certified supply chains is essential for fully realizing the aims of VSS. Variations in how certification is operationalized deserve more attention in future research.

企业实施认证及其对印尼可可生产商的影响
尽管越来越多地依赖自愿可持续性标准(VSS)来提高食品供应链的可持续性,但它们在为小农提供利益方面的有效性因环境而异。VSS是通过由生产者、合作社或加工公司运营的认证计划实施的,这些计划的异质性会影响结果,但影响程度和影响方式尚不清楚。我们调查了印度尼西亚南苏拉威西岛的四家不同的跨国公司对可可生产商的雨林联盟(RA)和可可生活(CL)认证的实施情况,其中三家获得了RA认证,一家获得了CL认证。我们研究了企业认证计划对可可生产和农民回报的差异实施的影响。方法和方法我们使用了来自46个关键信息者访谈和4个与认证生产商的焦点小组讨论的定性数据来描述四种企业认证方案中VSS实施的差异。我们使用来自598个小农可可生产者的定量调查数据来估计认证对可可生产和生产者回报的总体和特定方案的影响。我们采用逆概率加权回归调整来纠正选择偏差。四家公司提供的与实施认证相关的服务差异很大,特别是在支付保费、培训、提供物质支持和与公司相关的收集者接触方面(并非所有经过认证的咖啡豆都出售给公司收集者)。CL认证对生产和退货无显著影响;然而,RA认证与更高的可可产量、价格、收入和土地回报相关,尽管在实施RA认证的三个公司方案中并不均衡。所观察到的产量和价格的增加是通过不同渠道和不同方案实现的。价格上涨首先取决于认证咖啡豆是否出售给与该公司有关联的收藏家,而不是独立的贸易商。实施企业驱动认证计划的食品加工和分销公司在很大程度上负责有效实施VSS。提高认证供应链中公司的透明度和问责制对于充分实现VSS的目标至关重要。在未来的研究中,认证如何运作的变化值得更多的关注。
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来源期刊
Development Policy Review
Development Policy Review DEVELOPMENT STUDIES-
CiteScore
3.50
自引率
5.90%
发文量
87
期刊介绍: Development Policy Review is the refereed journal that makes the crucial links between research and policy in international development. Edited by staff of the Overseas Development Institute, the London-based think-tank on international development and humanitarian issues, it publishes single articles and theme issues on topics at the forefront of current development policy debate. Coverage includes the latest thinking and research on poverty-reduction strategies, inequality and social exclusion, property rights and sustainable livelihoods, globalisation in trade and finance, and the reform of global governance. Informed, rigorous, multi-disciplinary and up-to-the-minute, DPR is an indispensable tool for development researchers and practitioners alike.
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