As you know, the GEO FAIR TRADE concept will be implemented and validated in six selected case studies in six different locations:

• Panama hats in Ecuador
• Coffee in Brazil
• Shea Butter in Burkina Faso
• Tea in Uganda
• Vanilla in Madagascar
• Cashew, coffee, and spices in India

At the very beginning of 2010, each of the six selected cases studies were visited by Geo Fair Trade partners according to the table below:

The main objective of these missions was to identify, in each case study, the existing and missing data that are required to develop our framework based on Sustainable Development geo-Indicators for Fair Trade.

The inventory and the collect concern three different types of data:

• Geo localization data
• Traceability data
• Sustainable Development Indicators data

Each case study has different weaknesses and strengths involving that the development of the project (and consequently the work of the trainees – beginning in April 2010) will take a different form in each of the six countries.

A common point between the different case studies and probably also a characteristic of fair trade is the strong involvement of women in producer organizations as evidenced in both pictures below.

ATMA – Ecuador: Women weaving Panama hats	SONGTAABA – Burkina Faso: Women preparing Shea butter