Reducción de la pobreza: las normas voluntarias de sostenibilidad pueden ayudar a los pequeños productores

This policy brief, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in March 2023, examines the role of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) in reducing poverty among smallholder farmers. Based on a 2021 study of 13 major agricultural standards, 12 meta-studies, and 57 interviews across six countries, the document argues that while VSS can support poverty reduction through improved crop prices and resource conservation, they are not a standalone solution and require supportive ecosystems, government intervention, and improved governance to be truly effective.

• Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) can contribute to poverty reduction by influencing crop prices, conserving natural resources, improving producer organization, and strengthening value chain relationships.
• VSS typically show high coverage of criteria already found in national legislation or international conventions, such as minimum wage, worker health and safety, and freedom of association, as well as criteria for skills development and natural resource management.
• There are significant gaps in VSS coverage regarding living income, living wages, gender equality (specifically women's access to land and markets), and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• Practical evidence indicates that VSS can help producers secure price premiums between 10% and 30% for sustainably grown products and improve access to support services, though it is unclear if these factors consistently increase overall net household income.
• Smallholder access to VSS-regulated markets is hindered by several limiting factors, including prohibitive certification costs, limited financial resources, poor soil and water quality, and a lack of direct links to buyers due to too many intermediaries.
• The most critical factor for enabling smallholder access to VSS markets is a supportive ecosystem of actors—including state agencies, buyers, and development organizations—that provide information and training.
• VSS cannot eradicate poverty alone; they require systemic support from governments and the private sector to ensure land access, minimum living incomes, and the stimulation of market demand for certified products.

APA

Elder, S. (2023). Reducción de la pobreza: las normas voluntarias de sostenibilidad pueden ayudar a los pequeños productores. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-07/ssi-brief-reducing-poverty-vss-support-smallholder-farmers-es.pdf

Chicago

Elder, Sara. Reducción de la pobreza: las normas voluntarias de sostenibilidad pueden ayudar a los pequeños productores. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2023. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-07/ssi-brief-reducing-poverty-vss-support-smallholder-farmers-es.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Elder |first1=Sara |title=Reducción de la pobreza: las normas voluntarias de sostenibilidad pueden ayudar a los pequeños productores |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=March 2023 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-07/ssi-brief-reducing-poverty-vss-support-smallholder-farmers-es.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{elder2023reduccin, author = {Elder, Sara}, title = {{Reducción de la pobreza: las normas voluntarias de sostenibilidad pueden ayudar a los pequeños productores}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2023}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-07/ssi-brief-reducing-poverty-vss-support-smallholder-farmers-es.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }