The CSDDD

How can the CSDDD support smallholder farmers?

Promoting Living Incomes: The CSDDD could potentially require companies to ensure that their suppliers, including smallholder farmers, receive a living income. This would significantly improve the livelihoods of millions of farmers worldwide and contribute to poverty reduction. Addressing Human Rights and Environmental Impacts: By mandating due diligence throughout the supply chain, the CSDDD can help identify and address human rights abuses and environmental harm that disproportionately affect smallholder farmers. This includes issues such as forced labor, child labor, and deforestation. Fostering Responsible Purchasing Practices: The CSDDD encourages companies to adopt responsible purchasing practices that prioritize fair prices, long-term contracts, and support for sustainable farming practices. This can provide smallholder farmers with greater economic stability and incentives to invest in environmentally friendly production methods. Enhancing Transparency and Traceability: The CSDDD's requirements for traceability and disclosure can improve transparency in supply chains, making it easier for consumers and stakeholders to identify products that support sustainable livelihoods for farmers. Facilitating Access to Remedy: The CSDDD includes provisions for grievance mechanisms and access to remedy, which can empower smallholder farmers to seek redress for human rights violations or environmental damage caused by companies' operations. However, for the CSDDD to effectively support smallholder farmers, it's crucial that: The final legislation includes strong provisions on living incomes and responsible purchasing practices. Governments and companies provide adequate financial and technical support to help farmers comply with the new requirements. Smallholder farmers and their organizations are actively involved in the implementation and monitoring of the CSDDD. By addressing these factors, the CSDDD can become a powerful tool for improving the lives and livelihoods of smallholder farmers worldwide.

What measures can the EU and member states take to support smallholder farmers in the implementation of the CSDDD?

Provide financial and technical assistance: This could include grants, loans, and training programs to help smallholders understand and comply with the due diligence requirements. The EU and member states should prioritize funding for initiatives that strengthen farmer organizations and cooperatives, enabling them to collectively negotiate better prices and access markets. Develop simplified due diligence tools and guidance: Smallholders often lack the resources and expertise to conduct complex due diligence processes. The EU and member states can develop user-friendly tools and guidance tailored to the specific needs and challenges of smallholder farmers. Foster collaboration and partnerships: Encourage collaboration between businesses, governments, NGOs, and farmer organizations to share information, resources, and best practices for implementing the CSDDD. Public-private partnerships can play a crucial role in providing training, capacity building, and market access support to smallholders. Promote responsible purchasing practices: Encourage businesses to adopt responsible purchasing practices that prioritize fair prices, long-term contracts, and sustainable production methods. This can help create a more stable and equitable environment for smallholder farmers. Strengthening farmer organizations and cooperatives: Support the development and empowerment of farmer organizations and cooperatives, enabling them to collectively negotiate better prices, access markets, and advocate for their interests. Raising awareness and providing training: Develop and disseminate clear and accessible information about the CSDDD and its implications for smallholder farmers. Conduct training programs to build the capacity of farmers and their organizations to understand and comply with due diligence requirements. Establishing grievance mechanisms: Create accessible and effective grievance mechanisms for smallholder farmers to report human rights and environmental violations. Ensure that these mechanisms are independent, transparent, and provide remedies for affected parties.