Sustainability Certifications in Ecuadorian Cocoa: Compliance, Resistance, and Unintended Consequences

• In Event: Rural Criminology Panel

Abstract

Agri-food certifications, driven by consumer demands for sustainability in global trade, are often rooted in Western standards of quality, production, and labour. Embedded in complex regulatory networks, these certifications frequently conflict with producer communities' cultural values and practical realities. The misalignment leads to varied responses: some producers comply when benefits outweigh costs, while others resist, viewing the standards as burdensome or inadequate. Resistance may result in circumvention or corrupt practices. Despite literature highlighting both compliance and resistance, empirical studies testing these outcomes are limited. This article examines how producers interpret and implement certification standards, focusing on potential resistance and control at production sites. Understanding these dynamics could help create more culturally aligned standards. Using a case study of Ecuadorian cocoa production in the Amazon, informed by interviews with farmers in Napo province, it explores the impact of the sustainability certifications of Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, and Organic. The study critically analyses certification adoption, adaptation, and resistance based on surveillance studies and criminology theories. These certifications validate Ecuadorian cocoa’s quality and secure Western market access but often conflict with indigenous values. While they generally promote compliance, imposed standards can lead to corruption when misaligned with local conditions. This highlights vulnerabilities in certification processes, revealing inefficiencies and corruption that undermine developmental and sustainability goals. A decolonial approach underscores the need to understand local communities' social and operational dynamics to ensure certifications lead to meaningful and equitable outcomes. The study calls for awareness of producers' cultural and economic realities to foster fair, sustainable practices and highlights the need for further empirical analysis.

Author

• Marta Avesani, University of Groningen