The concept map below describes my case study on fair trade coffee farming in Pico Duarte, Dominican Republic:
Map Description: The map first describes the unsustainable coffee market on the global scale, discussing the primary values of the market that contribute to production disconnects and socioeconomic externalities. It moves to the local scale, and describes how collective action among the Pico Duarte people and the responsibility of outside corporations/institutions helped the Pico Duarte people move their society towards a sustainable future. Also of note, the map points out some possible roadblocks, or ways in which the system could be improved. Thinking about system resilience has helped the Pico Duarte people overcome those roadblocks.
Case Importance: This case is important because it provides a real-world example of how the various paths towards sustainability can be implemented effectively. This case focuses on economic paths like internalizing externalities and financial support from global organizations. It also focuses on the value transformation that is necessary to make the global coffee market more sustainable. The sustainability initiatives of the Pico Duarte people are dynamic and still contain room for improvement.
References:
Clapp & Dauvergne (2011); Dauvergne (2009); Ehrenfeld (2013); “Fair Trade Coffee” (2018); Gross, “Supporting Rural Livlihoods”, (2014); Gross, “A Story of Coffee”, (2014); Heath & Heath (2010); Howarth (2011); Jaffe (2007); Levy et al. (2015); Locke et al. (2010); Mainelli & Harris (2014); Rosenbaum (2017); Walker & Salt (2006)