The Coffee Paradox

'An important contribution to the literature on primary products and economic development.' Diego Pizano, National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia 'Daviron and Ponte have done a masterful job both of showing the limits to 'free' trade in agricultural products as well as providing some concrete proposals as to what must be done to promote greater equity. The story of the global coffee trade is an essential lesson for all those concerned about international development. This volume should be read by anyone who is interested in how international trade takes place on the ground as opposed to abstract theorizing about it.' Lawrence Busch, director of the Institute for Food and Agricultural Standards, Michigan State University 'This book uses value chain analysis to go beyond the normal hand-wringing about the coffee crisis. The authors blend theory and practice (including new data) to provide all those interested in coffee with new insights, ideas and perspective.' Peter Baker, senior coffee scientist, CABI Commodities 'Ponte and Daviron bring fresh insights to the persistent difficulties of trade as a lever of development for poor nations. Their well-crafted and historically grounded arguments precisely characterize the important intangible attributes of value and market power that are often overlooked and offer some stimulating perspectives for anyone interested in development and in coffee.' Daniele Giovannucci, consultant and author of The State of Sustainable Coffee 'The Coffee Paradox offers a fascinating account of how our favourite morning cup of coffee travels from poor producer regions in the Global South to relatively affluent consumer regions in the Global North. Analyzing recent transformations in coffee quality specifications and global trade networks, Daviron and Ponte illuminate the challenges and opportunities inherent in tropical export production, global trade, and shifting consumption trends. The book is theoretically sophisticated, empirically grounded, and goes the extra mile to identify promising pathways for fuelling development.' Laura T. Raynolds, co-director of the Center for Fair and Alternative Trade Studies, Colorado State University 'Aimed at academics and researchers, the Coffee Paradox raises interesting questions, using the example of coffee to explore a complex, but important subject.' New Agriculturist '...is an intriguing study..is likely to make an important contribution to the research, debates and initiatives addressing the relationship between commodity trade and development, as well as to the future potential of more equitable North/South relations amidst the rapid changes in production, trade and consumption in the global economy.' Douglas L. Murray, Colorado State University 'Recasts the so-called coffee paradox - the coexistence of a 'coffee boom' in consuming countries and of a 'coffee crisis' in producing countries. While coffee bar chains have expanded rapidly in consuming countries international coffee prices have fallen dramatically and producers receive the lowest prices in decades.' Development Action, Nov/Dec 2005