Technology and globalisation: who gains when commodities are de-commodified?
2004
R. Kaplinsky | R. Fitter
This paper, from the International Journal of Technology and Globalisation, discusses coffee markets, growers, the chain of production and consumers in the light of globalisation and technology.Conclusions of the paper include:coffee has long been characterised as a commodity with falling terms of trade and volatile pricesthere is a growing uneven distribution of income in the global coffee value chainconsumers need to learn to recognise the quality and taste nuances of different varieties of coffee and to relate these to the conditions under which the coffee is grown rather than to the image promoted by roasters and blendersgrowers can learn to improve their product through the systematic application of knowledge throughout the coffee value chainas taste patterns emerge, producers need to protect the reputation of their product, which is based on location-specific taste characteristics, through intellectual property rightsin recent years, there has been growing product differentiation in final markets, with premium prices being earned and high and sustainable incomes being provided.[adapted from author]
显示更多 [+] 显示较少 [-]