Michel Ortland studies Economic and Social Geography at Osnabrück University (UOS). As part of his master’s thesis “Sustainability standards in Costa Rican pineapple production: an analysis of social, environmental and economic impacts of certifications on the first steps of the pineapple value chain” he currently is on a two-month field stay (from June 19 to August 04, 2023) in Ciudad Quesada in the north of Costa Rica, a town close to the largest pineapple-growing region of the country. His thesis is part of the Transformative research and capacity building to protect livelihoods and biodiversity in Costa Rica project and his stay is funded by the DAAD. Dr. Schilling-Vacaflor from the UOS is Michel Ortland’s thesis mentor and on site he receives great support from Dr. Elemer Briceno and the entire Universidad Técnica Nacional (UTN).
When asked about his thesis and his stay in Costa Rica, Michel Ortland answered the following:
Sweet fruit, bitter truth – this is how an Oxfam report by Humbert and Braßel (2016) precisely describes the dilemma of pineapple production in Costa Rica. While the consumption of sugary tropical fruits like pineapples is booming in Europe and the USA at discount prices, the small farmers involved in cultivation usually have to work hard and sweat under poor working conditions for every pineapple. They receive only a fraction of the already low pineapple prices. Social standards and the environmental impact of pineapple cultivation must also be viewed critically. In view of this, sustainable certifications such as Rainforest Alliance, GlobalGAP, or FairTrade quickly appear to be a way out of this precarious situation. But to what extent do these labels really contribute to sustainability in the pineapple value chain? Do the certifications lead to better working conditions, better payment, and more sustainable cultivation? Or does the idea of profit maximization and marketing prevail in the certifications, so that the small farmers still have to work under poor conditions and cannot afford the costs of good living conditions?
These are the questions, I would like to explore as part of my master’s thesis. So far, I have been able to observe several steps of the pineapple value chain and conduct a number of insightful interviews. For example, I spent a day working on the pineapple harvest and was able to feel the impact that the scorching heat and hard work in the fields can have on you. I was also able to observe the processes from washing the fruit to packaging it. I also took part in a Rainforest Alliance certification workshop that lasted several days and was intended to teach the various actors in the value chain about the necessary regulations. In addition to my research, I was lucky to be able to explore the country a bit and participate in intercultural exchange. I experienced the great biodiversity of Costa Rica on a trip to the Cano Negro National Park and saw impressive jungles like the Cloud Forrest in Monteverde. What impressed me most was the open and cheerful nature of the people in Costa Rica. True to the motto: Pura Vida!
Looking back on my research and my interviews, I have to say that larger corporations in particular benefit from the certifications. They have fewer problems complying with certification requirements and paying the costs of labeling their fruit. Smaller producers often cannot afford this and are thus excluded from important markets in a certain way. Frequently, there is little improvement for the diligent workers in the fields, despite the existence of certifications. Regrettably, many of them are unaware of whether the company they work for holds any certification at all. They persistently endure hard labor under scorching heat, all while receiving wages that barely sustain them. While consumers in Europe and the US enjoy the sweet fruit with a sense of security due to the certifications, the truth remains bitter for pineapple farmers.