5. Is the global trade of chocolate fair?

Activity 1 - How is chocolate produced?

Activity Tasks

Locate - Examine this world map showing where Cocoa is grown in the world. Consider:
1. Can you name the places where cocoa grows?
2. What patterns can you see?
3. What is the climate is like where cocoa grows?
4. Are the countries where cocoa grows richer countries, poorer countries, or both?
Connect - Can you recall how chocolate is produced? Match these images to their correct caption to show the stages of chocolate production.

Activity Tasks

Define - What is a supply chain? Watch the video and research to find out. A typical supply chain contains: a producer, processor, packer, manufacturer, retailer, and finally consumer. Can you explain what each stage does?
Examine - Consider the images on slide 6 of this Google Slide and discuss these questions:
1. Who is the: Farmers? Traders? Processors? Manufacturers? Retailers?
2. What does each player do?
3. Who do you think has the hardest job?
4. Who has the most expenses?
5. Who employs the most people?
6. Who relies on cocoa the most for their money?
7. Can you think of anyone else who’s involved in the cocoa supply chain?

Activity Tasks

Setup - Get into groups of at least five students. Each student will take a role from the Cocoa supply chain. Choose between: Supermarket; Manufacturer; Processor; Trader; and Farmer(s). What do you think your group does to cocoa to turn it into chocolate?
Groups - Now get into five new groups based on your roles. For example, all supermarket students together. Then look at this image. Each group will be allocated a different amount of chocolate. Who do you think will get the most and who will get the least?
Evaluate - Do you think you received a fair amount of chocolate? Who played the most important role? Did they get enough? What might be the consequences of this unfair distribution?

Activity Tasks

Video - Watch the video 'My Fairtrade Adventure Part Two'. Make notes on the different problems farmers face if they are not in the Fair Trade system.
Analysis - Examine this diagram of the cocoa chain:
1. What does the chain look like?
2. Who gets the most/least value from cocoa?
3. How many farmers share the value from cocoa?
4. And how many manufacturers?
5. What does this picture tell us about the power in this supply chain? Who holds the power? Why?
6. Now complete the questions on this worksheet.

Activity Tasks

Video - Watch the third part of the 'My Fairtrade Adventure' series. Make notes on the benefits of fair trade for farmers.
Discuss - What role do we have as consumers?
Continuum - Listen to the teacher as they read out statements and move to stand somewhere between the pieces of paper, according to whether you agree:
1. Is the cocoa supply chain fair?
2. Does Fairtrade make a big difference to farmers?
3. Is it worth choosing Fair trade products?
4. As a consumer am I getting the chocolate I want?
5. Do these strategies improve power and wealth for cocoa farmers?
Solutions - With a partner, examine these fair trade solutions currently used in the chocolate industry. Summarise/paraphrase each solution onto your graphic organisers.

Activity Tasks

Card Sort - Examine these cards about the benefits and problems of fair trade. Sort them into two piles, one showing benefits, the other showing problems.
Video - Watch this video. Can you summarise three reasons why fair trade chocolate is more beneficial to farmers than conventional chocolate?

Activity Tasks

Recall - Can you remember what the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) are?
Examine - Study SDG 1 and SDG 10. How do you think fair trade chocolate helps to achieve these goals? Make a note of the ways you think it might help.
Discuss - How does paying farmers more for their cocoa help achieve reducing inequalities?
Write - Write a paragraph explaining how chocolate companies could change their methods and business models to achieve progress towards the SDGs.