Patrick Struebi
Ashoka Fellow since 2008   |   Mexico

Patrick Struebi

Fairtrade South American, S.A. de C.V. (Fairtrasa)
Patrick Struebi’s experience with the world’s leading international commerce companies has led him to change the face of fair-trade exportation. Patrick is seizing the opportunity to broaden global…
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This description of Patrick Struebi's work was prepared when Patrick Struebi was elected to the Ashoka Fellowship in 2008.

Introduction

Patrick Struebi’s experience with the world’s leading international commerce companies has led him to change the face of fair-trade exportation. Patrick is seizing the opportunity to broaden global markets while paying small producers a fairer price for their goods. He has developed a hybridRead more

The New Idea

Fairtrasa is the hybrid innovation of Patrick, a young businessman from Switzerland who is changing the face of international fair-trade. After five years of working with small producer organizations in Mexico and Argentina, he has discovered the weaknesses of the existing fair-trade system and isRead more

The Problem

The current fair trading system has been, to all appearances, a huge success. From its modest beginnings more than thirty years ago, it has grown into a system which has benefited more than 5 million growers with US$3.6B in revenue and 30 percent growth rates over the past few years. As moreRead more

The Strategy

Patrick is creating a new global sustainable trade institution that establishes new working relationships between whole sellers who export products, like Fairtrasa, and small farmers. These new roles for existing actors will double production capabilities, make communities responsible for economicRead more

The Person

Patrick was born and raised in Switzerland were he was cultured by his parents on the importance of fairness, morality, and tolerance. Patrick studied business administration and public accounting and later worked for seven years as an auditor for the international consulting and auditing groupRead more

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