2013 is set to be an exciting year for Fairtrade! Starting in Fairtrade Fortnight, we will be launching a major new campaign, Make Food Fair, to tackle the injustices in our food system. Our current food system is out of control for farmers, consumers and companies. Too many farmers are going hungry while the rich world is consuming too much. Supermarkets are trapped by their own low prices which prevent them from investing in farmers and paying them fair prices. Make Food Fair calls for a sustainable food system, which works for everyone and ensures that farmers can get a decent livelihood from the crops that they grow. Did you know:

 Half of the world’s hungry are smallholder famers who are unable to earn a living from the crops that they grow.

 Smallholder tea growers often receive less than 3 per cent of the retail value of tea, and sometimes less than 1 per cent.

 UK supermarkets sell bananas more cheaply than anywhere else in the developed world, even though the cost of growing bananas has shot up for the producers.

 Each year consumers in rich countries waste as much food as the total annual food production of sub-Saharan Africa. The Make Food Fair campaign will build a powerful movement of people demanding an end to the unfairness in our food system. It will challenge decision makers to go further to support smallholder farmers in crisis, and it will take the call for trade justice to business leaders. Winning this campaign will mean transforming the lives of millions – but we need to start building overwhelming pressure for change among the UK public. Find out more at www.fairtrade.org.uk/makefoodfair

What are we calling for?

To start the campaign, we are calling on Prime Minister David Cameron to champion action for smallholder farmers. This year the UK holds the chair of the G8 group of world leaders, and will host a summit in Northern Ireland in June. David Cameron will also host a major hunger event alongside the summit. We want to make sure the UK champions action to build a fairer, more sustainable food system for all, including major investment in smallholder agriculture – critical for feeding the world in the future. Add your name to our online petition by creating a mini paper character at www.fairtrade.org.uk/gofurther