FarmerFinder - Finding Fair Trade Buyers For Farmers

by Startacus Admin

Acess to resources has never been easier, since the dawn of the internet age, anyone, anywhere, has been able to contact, purchase and obtain materials from suppliers. 

That being said, this unprecedented access gave rise to an already difficult problem, unfair trade.

Enter Startacus Collaborators; FarmerFinder.com. Startacus talks to the team to get the scoop!

Hi Guys! Let’s get the ball rolling! What exactly is FarmerFinder?

FarmerFinder is an online marketplace that can help over 500 million farmers to be found by buyers locally and globally, sell direct and get paid on time.

Wow! That is a LOT of Farmers, So definitely a great resource to work with, what inspired you guys to create this platform?

Our food system has evolved rapidly to the detriment of farmers all over the world. Many farmers now receive prices for their produce which are unsustainable for their efforts. We are passionate about making farming fairer and more viable. In doing so, we hope to make a difference to the lives of the people who grow our food.

We want to provide a place which connects people back to the person who has grown their food and at the same time provide Farmers with an identity they can be proud of.

We believe selling direct is the most powerful tool to achieve this. Shortening the supply chain has many benefits for farmers and buyers. Currently, there is no dedicated marketplace just for agricultural produce, and we want to change that by giving people FarmerFinder.com.

So you want to ensure a better lifestyle for those who produce, well, produce. That’s an admirable idea, It’s only fair they get the fair pay for their crops. Tell us a little about your long term goals for FarmerFinder? 
For FarmerFinder to be known as the local and global marketplace for farmers, and anyone wishing to buy direct. We want to set the benchmark for transparency and fairness in the trade of produce.

To promote sustainable agriculture by providing an option for farmers to earn a fair living from producing high quality nutritious food.

As food becomes an increasing issue with the growth of the world's population we want to significantly assist in the efficiency and better distribution of food locally and globally.

A platform like this, for fair-trade, could revolutionize agricultural markets. How would you guys define your success?

We will measure our success through the success of our members – if they are doing well then we are achieving our goals.

This is obviously a big undertaking, how are you planning to fund it?

We are bootstrapping. We are using our own resources to make this happen, to ensure our goals aren’t tampered with or modified due to external influences.

Starting a platform like this must come with some difficulties? How did you overcome these?

We experience regular challenges in building the marketplace, but there's nothing we can't solve with creativity, persistence and vision. We focus on what people need, keep things simple and tie everything we do back to our mission.

Ok, finally then, if anyone in the Startacus community wanted to help out; how would they go about doing so?

We always have time for others like us in the community so if you think we could help you in any way – just get in touch! Right now we are looking for farmers and people involved in agricultural industry bodies and cooperatives, who share our vision of empowering farmers. If you know anyone like this please let them know about FarmerFinder!

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If you, like Farmerfinder you have a great startup idea and want to get help and connect with startups, mentors and investors; why not submit your startup to our collaboration space?

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• #farming
• #unfair trade

Published on: 27th November 2014