Ingles. Infografía jovenes 24/25

Agroextractivism may be the most complicated word you have read today. But... Don't be scared! It's simpler than it seems... Do you want to know more about this word?

Activities

As we were saying, this practice has consequences on people and on the planet... If you want to know more about them... here we tell you!

The common good is about justice. And its principles are aligned with those of Fair Trade, Responsible Consumption and the Social and Solidarity Economy.

In Guatemala, we have Social and Solidarity Economy projects.

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From 12 years old

Recursos

Presentation of the joint work of Lasallian NGOs

Guatemala Project

Food production

How much do you know about Guatemala?

Exchange of knowledge

How much have you learned?

Landing on the cocoa case

What is happening with cocoa?

The common good

What is agroextractivism?

Recursos

Presentation of the joint work of Lasallian NGOs

Guatemala Project

Landing on the cocoa case

What is happening with cocoa?

The common good

What is agroextractivism?

Cocoa is an essential crop in tropical climates, especially in West Africa, where countries such as Ivory Coast and Ghana produce most of the world's cocoa. However, despite its value, the smallholder farmers who grow it receive very little economic benefit.

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Deforestation and environmental damage: cocoa plantations often involve the clearing of tropical forests, which leads to the loss of biodiversity and negatively affects the ecosystem. In addition, the intensive use of pesticides and fertilizers contaminates soil and water, damaging the health of local communities.

Poverty and inequality: most cocoa farmers live in poverty. In Ivory Coast, a cocoa farmer family earns less than one dollar a day, far below the minimum needed to live decently. In contrast, chocolate manufacturers and retailers keep almost 75% of the final price of a chocolate bar, while farmers receive only 3% to 7%.

Child labor: Extreme poverty forces many families to rely on child labor. In 2015, around 2 million children were working on cocoa plantations in hazardous conditions, handling chemicals and performing strenuous tasks with machetes.

Landing on the cocoa case

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What is happening with cocoa?

Increased demand

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Decrease in supply

Increased consumption of products with a high % cocoa content

Climate change, changes in rainfall patterns, pests and diseases

POSSIBLE CAUSES OF THE INCREASE IN COCOA PRICES

Increased use of cocoa in the cosmetics industry

Growing cocoa consumption in Asia

Low or no care of cocoa plantations, depletion of the land

Political and social conflicts

Reflection - What options do we have in the face of this unsustainable situation?

Insight: The price of cocoa

Our consumption choices have a direct impact on the world. By choosing fair trade products, practicing responsible consumption and supporting the social and solidarity economy, we contribute to the common good and to a more equitable and sustainable future for all people.

Our choices promote the Common Good

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Laudato Si', Pope Francis' encyclical on care for the common home, focuses on the interconnectedness between people, nature and the economy. One of the central themes is the common good, which is understood as the set of social conditions that enable people to reach their fullness more fully and easily.

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Solidarity

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Environmental Sustainability

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Social Justice

By choosing fair trade products, such as coffee, chocolate or clothing, we support local producers and contribute to a fairer and more sustainable system. Look for products with the fair trade seal when shopping. This seal guarantees that the producers have been treated fairly and that the product has been produced in a sustainable manner.

Practice responsible consumption, buy only what is necessary and avoid waste, or choose local and seasonal products, or opt for products with less packaging or recyclable products.

The social and solidarity economy promotes equality, respect for the environment and democratic participation in decision-making. For example, cooperatives are enterprises where workers are the owners and make decisions together. This ensures that profits are distributed fairly and that work is done for the benefit of the community.

“Laudato Si', mi Signore”, - sang Saint Francis of Assisi. In this beautiful phrase, he reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share life and like a beautiful mother who welcomes us in her arms.

How much have you learned?

In this activity we will test what we have learned in this educational resource. Before starting the quiz "The Genius Fall!" we will need to have read the information contained in the sections of the infographic "What is agroextractivism?", "Landing on the cocoa case" and "What is happening with cocoa?" and the section on the common good, social economy and the social economy. Have fun studying them and then show what you've learned in the Game!

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Teacher instructions

Questions for reflection

Exchange of knowledge

For this activity we are going to work in teams. First, watch the video and then get together with your group to discuss the different questions posed. Have fun!

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Teacher instructions

Food production

For this activity we are going to work in teams. First, watch the videos and then get together with your group to discuss the different questions posed. Have fun!

Moment 2. Sugar Cane Differences

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Moment 1. What do we have here?

Resource utilization

Community impact

Land care

Care of natural resources

Returm

Context

Return

By zooming in on the different ounces of this bar you can see how the cost of a chocolate bar is distributed, highlighting the disparities in the value chain where most of the profit stays in the final links of the chain, far from the cocoa producers.

Source: Oxfam

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5%

12%

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10%

43%

7%

Cocoa farmers receive about 3-6% of the final price of a chocolate bar. This percentage reflects the very low income that cocoa farmers get for their product. Most of the value added in the chocolate production chain is obtained after the cocoa leaves their hands.

Local fees include taxes, licenses and other regulatory costs paid in the producing countries.

Transportation is a crucial part of the cost, as cocoa must be moved from the rural areas where it is grown to export ports, and then to processing facilities in other countries. This percentage includes land and sea transportation costs, as well as costs associated with logistics and product handling.

Production costs range from the purchase of cocoa beans to their transformation into semi-finished products such as cocoa paste, cocoa butter and cocoa powder. This process includes fermentation, drying, transportation, roasting and grinding of the cocoa beans.

Marketing includes advertising, promotions, packaging design, public relations and other efforts aimed at attracting consumers and increasing sales.

Processing includes all stages of transformation of cocoa into finished products such as chocolate bars.

The supermarket margin represents the difference between the product's acquisition cost and its retail price. .

What is happening with cocoa?

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VS

• Organic waste: Cane residues and other organic materials are composted and used as natural fertilizers.

• Renewable Energy: Some producers use sugarcane by-products, such as bagasse, to generate renewable energy.

Fair Trade

Resource utilization

• Unutilized waste: Sugarcane residues and other by-products are often discarded without being utilized.

• Lack of Renewable Energy: Little or no investment in renewable energy generation from sugarcane by-products.

Conventional production

Resource utilization

• What is the compost shown in the video? What materials are used to produce this compost? Why do you think it is important to use compost?
• How does composting help reduce the use of chemical fertilizers? What impact does composting have on ecosystems and biodiversity? How does composting benefit individuals and communities? What are the advantages of using compost compared to traditional methods
• How can the use of compost contribute to a fairer and more caring economy? What other sustainable practices do they know of that could be applied in their community? What actions can they themselves take to support sustainable production and the use of compost?

Download the project information in the following link

Indigenous women promoting food sustainability in Guatemala

Link

https://latierraesclava.eldiario.es/cacao/

Resources

VS

• Invests in community projects that improve local infrastructure and quality of life.
• Promotes the participation and empowerment of farmers and their families.

Fair Trade

Community impact

• Low investment in the local community, which can limit infrastructure development and improvement.
• Reduced participation of farmers in important decisions that affect their lives and work.

Conventional production

Community impact

Short Resource for TeachersIntroduction to the Social and Solidarity Economy:The social and solidarity economy focuses on principles such as equity, cooperation and sustainability. A key principle is sustainable production, which minimizes environmental impact and promotes beneficial practices for communities.Importance of Organic Fertilizer:Organic fertilizer, such as poultry manure, is an example of sustainable production. It reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, thus protecting the soil and ecosystems. It contributes to soil health and promotes environmentally friendly agriculture and improves people's quality of life.

Organic fertilizer

• Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Cultivation techniques that conserve the soil are used, such as crop rotation and the use of organic fertilizers.

• Soil Maintenance: Prevents soil erosion by planting ground cover and terraces.

• Avoidance of Harmful Chemicals: Minimal or no use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, opting for natural and biological alternatives.

Fair Trade

VS

Land care

• Intensive methods: Use of monocultures and practices that deplete the soil without allowing it to recover adequately.

• Soil Erosion: Mayor riesgo de erosión debido a la falta de prácticas de conservación.
• Use of Chemicals: Dependence on chemical pesticides and fertilizers that can be harmful to the soil and the environment.

Conventional production

Land care

https://latierraesclava.eldiario.es/cacao/

Resources

VS

• Water Management: Efficient irrigation systems that reduce water consumption and prevent contamination of local water sources.

• Biodiversity Protection: Conservation of natural areas around the fields to maintain the local flora and fauna.

Fair Trade

Care of natural resources

• Water Waste: Inefficient irrigation methods that consume large amounts of water and can lead to contamination of water sources.

• Biodiversity loss: Destruction of natural habitats due to the expansion of monocultures.

Conventional production

Care of natural resources

We are reference organizations, especially in the Lasallian sphere, in the promotion of equality, Human Rights and Universal Education through projects of Cooperation for Development, Awareness Campaigns and Political Advocacy, promotion of Volunteering and Fair Trade, responding to social problems related to poverty, inequality and social exclusion.

Lasallian NGOs

We work in a network through the Lasallian NGos Coordinating Committee, where we collaborate in various activities and projects. In the area of international cooperation, we share efforts in many countries and maintain contact with various partners. An outstanding example of our work is our long-standing collaboration with Prodessa in Guatemala.This year, our project is linked to this entity. You can find more information about this project in the following path icon.

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Cocoa is a vital crop in tropical regions, particularly in West Africa, where countries such as Ivory Coast and Ghana produce most of the world's cocoa. Despite its economic importance, smallholder farmers in these regions earn very little, perpetuating poverty and inequality. Farmers often live on less than a dollar a day, well below the poverty line, while the bulk of chocolate profits are concentrated in the hands of manufacturers and retailers. This disparity not only reflects economic injustice, but also has profound social implications, such as child labor, which remains widespread due to the extreme poverty of cocoa farming families.In addition to the social implications, conventional cocoa production has a significant environmental impact. Deforestation is a common practice to make room for new cocoa plantations, leading to biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.The intensive use of pesticides and fertilizers on these plantations contaminates the soil and water, negatively affecting the health of local communities and the quality of the environment.Consuming fair trade cocoa offers a tangible solution to these problems. By choosing fair trade products, consumers support farmers by providing them with fairer prices for their work, which contributes to improving their livelihoods and reducing poverty. In addition, fair trade practices promote more sustainable farming methods, reducing deforestation and the use of harmful chemicals, which helps to protect the environment and preserve local biodiversity.

We are reference organizations, especially in the Lasallian sphere, in the promotion of equality, Human Rights and Universal Education through projects of Cooperation for Development, Awareness Campaigns and Political Advocacy, promotion of Volunteering and Fair Trade, responding to social problems related to poverty, inequality and social exclusion.

Lasallian NGOs

We work in a network through the Lasallian NGos Coordinating Committee, where we collaborate in various activities and projects. In the area of international cooperation, we share efforts in many countries and maintain contact with various partners. An outstanding example of our work is our long-standing collaboration with Prodessa in Guatemala.This year, our project is linked to this entity. You can find more information about this project in the following path icon.

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Agroextractivism is a type of agriculture that focuses on producing large quantities of a single crop (monoculture), such as cocoa, soybeans, oil palm or pineapple, to be sold mainly in other countries. This model uses a lot of machines, chemicals and does not usually process the products before exporting them. Often, large companies control this production, leaving small farmers at a disadvantage.

What is it?

Agroextractivism

Consequences

Displacement of communities: Large companies can buy or lease land previously owned by small farmers, displacing them from their homes and livelihoods.

Import dependency: By focusing on exporting agricultural products, local communities can become dependent on importing staple foods, which can increase prices and food insecurity.

Contamination: The intensive use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers contaminates soil and water, affecting the health of people and ecosystems.

Precarious working conditions: Workers often face low-paid, insecure jobs with no benefits.

Deforestation and biodiversity loss: The expansion of monocultures can lead to the destruction of forests and natural habitats, affecting many plant and animal species.

Environmental impact

Social problems

Food insecurity

"Laudato Si, mi Signore."

- sang St. Francis of Assisi. In this beautiful phrase, he reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share life and like a beautiful mother who welcomes us in her arms.

Ask students to guess what the "stick" in the video is. Group reflection on their answers.Help questions:

• What do you think that stick is?
• What do you think it is used for?
• What work is involved in processing/working that "stick"?

Step 1

Step 2

At this point, we will see what differences may exist between Fair Trade sugar and conventionally produced sugar.To do so, he asks the student to inevstigate/reflect on these differences, starting from 4 aspects in particular:- Care of the land - Impact on the community - Care of natural resources - Use of natural resources.

Agroextractivism is a type of agriculture that focuses on producing large quantities of a single crop (monoculture), such as cocoa, soybeans, oil palm or pineapple, to be sold mainly in other countries. This model uses a lot of machines, chemicals and does not usually process the products before exporting them. Often, large companies control this production, leaving small farmers at a disadvantage.

What is it?

Agroextractivism

Consequences

Displacement of communities: Large companies can buy or lease land previously owned by small farmers, displacing them from their homes and livelihoods.

Import dependency: By focusing on exporting agricultural products, local communities can become dependent on importing staple foods, which can increase prices and food insecurity.

Contamination: The intensive use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers contaminates soil and water, affecting the health of people and ecosystems.

Precarious working conditions: Workers often face low-paid, insecure jobs with no benefits.

Deforestation and biodiversity loss: The expansion of monocultures can lead to the destruction of forests and natural habitats, affecting many plant and animal species.

Environmental impact

Social problems

Food insecurity

Download the project information in the following link

Indigenous women promoting food sustainability in Guatemala

Link