Doctoral Dissertation Research: SustainabiliTea: Shaping Sustainability in Tanzanian Tea Production

这个博士论文研究改进补助金-由NSF的科学技术社会计划资助-研究如何确定可持续性标准。 在非洲，捐助者、决策者、私营部门和民间社会正在推动对符合道德标准的农业做法进行认证，作为一种新的科技手段，增加农业的价值，同时促进可持续发展。 本论文的研究解决了嵌入在技术科学标准的价值，并试图了解他们在当前的生产网络的影响。 这些政策并非非洲所独有，而是反映了一种全球趋势，即采用标准来管理农业粮食系统的贸易。更具体地说，经过道德认证的产品已经受到消费者的欢迎，他们认同这些产品所代表的价值主张。这些主张包括可持续性、企业社会责任和性别平等的价值观;然而，对于这些标准是否能为食品生产者带来更可持续的未来，人们尚未达成一致。该研究项目采用案例研究方法，研究这些价值观在四个可持续茶叶价值链（道德茶叶伙伴关系，公平贸易，有机和雨林联盟）中的关键互动中的表现，这些价值链将坦桑尼亚的生产商和加工商与肯尼亚的买家和西欧的标准制定者联系起来。研究重点是如何实现可持续发展，企业社会责任和性别平等的价值观。将采用多种方法（文件分析、实地观察、深入访谈和焦点小组）来确定和分析这三种价值观在可持续茶叶价值链中关键谈判地点的表现：生产（种植者-工厂）、市场（工厂-搅拌机）和标准联系（认证者-工厂）。这些性能的不断和比较分析将寻求发展扎根的理论，将揭示每个网络如何设想可持续性和他们如何制定它之间的差异和共性。本论文的工作将有助于在农业发展和全球贸易中使用科技标准的知识。此外，从这项研究中产生的可持续性，企业社会责任和性别平等的概念将有助于学术和政策对话的性质可持续的做法。最后，研究结果将探讨协同作用和协调的可能性，为那些目前正在努力与茶叶行业的多重认证的责任。

This doctoral dissertation research improvement grant--funded by the Science, Technology & Society program at NSF--examines how sustainability standards are determined. In Africa, certification of agricultural practices to meet ethical standards is being promoted by donors, policy-makers, the private sector and civil society as a new techno-scientific means to add value to agriculture, while simultaneously promoting sustainable development. This dissertation research addresses the values embedded in techno-scientific standards and seeks to understand their impact in current production networks. These policies are not unique to Africa, but reflect a global movement towards the use of standards to govern trade in the agri-food system. More specifically, ethically certified products have become popular with consumers who identify with the value claims they represent. These claims include the values of sustainability, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and gender equity; yet, there is no agreement over whether these standards enable more sustainable futures for food producers. This research project adopts a case study approach that examines the performances of these values in key interactions within each of the four sustainable tea value chains (Ethical Tea Partnership, Fairtrade, Organic, and Rainforest Alliance) that link producers and processors in Tanzania with buyers in Kenya and standards developers in Western Europe. The research focuses on how the values of sustainability, CSR and gender equity are performed. Multiple methods (document analysis, field observations, in-depth interviews and focus groups) will be used to identify and analyze the performance of these three values at key sites of negotiation in the sustainable tea value-chains: in production (grower-factory), the market (factory-blender) and standards nexus (certifier-factory). Constant and comparative analysis of these performances will seek to develop grounded theory that will reveal differences and commonalities between how each network envisions sustainability and how they enact it. This dissertation work will contribute to knowledge on the use of techno-scientific standards in agricultural development and global trade. Moreover, the concepts of sustainability, CSR and gender equity that emerge from this research will contribute to academic and policy dialogue on the nature of sustainable practices. Finally, the findings will explore synergies and possibilities for harmonization for those actors currently struggling with the onus of multiple certifications in the tea industry.