In just 6 months, Brewgooder has set up the world’s first Fairtrade-certified brewing supply chain for climate-resilient fonio grain – a native crop to West Africa.
Fonio is one of WWF’s 50 foods for the future. It is quick to harvest, doesn’t require fertilisers and uses much less water to grow than barley, meaning it can thrive in less fertile soils prominent in countries in West Africa.
Through close collaboration with fonio farming cooperatives in Guinea, the new supply chain, dubbed ‘Open Grain’, will ensure farmers are paid a fairer price for their produce, whilst promoting sustainable and equitable economic growth for the local communities.
So far 67 farmers have signed up and the hope is that hundreds more farmers will join them in the future.
The supply chain is accessible to all, with any UK brewer or business looking to utilise fonio able to tap into the Fairtrade-certified supply.
The move has been made in conjunction with the Glasgow brewer’s launch of Brewgooder Fonio Session IPA (4.3%), which has already secured listings in Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, the-Cop and with British Airways.
“Alone we can make a small but meaningful difference, but as an entire industry – even if only adopting Fairtrade fonio in small amounts – we can support farmers in Guinea make a game-changing impact on these communities while simultaneously bringing quality and desirable products to market. Enabling other beer producers to use our supply chain makes that possible,” commented Alan Mahon, founder at Brewgooder.
“We’re not adopting Fairtrade fonio to give ourselves a USP, but to show what can be achieved when you collaborate with farming communities for a fairer deal.”
Brewgooder has seen its turnover rise by 74%, reaching £3.7m last year, and predicts its new IPA will add more than £2m in retail sales to the UK’s Fairtrade market annually.
UK consumer demand for Fairtrade products overall has seen a spike in recent years, with Kantar 2022 data revealing around 80% of consumers have chosen Fairtrade products over an alternative, with growth in retail sales of bananas, coffee, flowers and tea.
“We faced almost impossible odds in bringing this supply chain together in just six months, but we achieved it through the incredible effort, commitment, and drive of our farming and logistics partners. It demonstrates that a vision for a fairer, more equitable world can make seemingly impossible things happen,” he continued.
“There’s a huge appetite for Fairtrade products in the UK, and it's absent in the beer category at present. People care about fair and just trade, and if they can achieve it through the products they buy, then they will make that choice.”
Commenting on the news, LJ Loftus, deputy director of partnerships at the Fairtrade Foundation, added: “Let’s raise a glass to Brewgooder for introducing the world’s first Fairtrade certified fonio grain IPA onto the UK market, using fonio produced by smallholder farmers in Guinea. Every sip will not only be delicious, but means that farmers are getting a better deal.”
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