Summary
The report presents the results of a mixed-method systematic review on
socio-economic effects of certification systems on agricultural producers and wage workers in low and
middle income countries. The authors draw on 43 studies to analyse the quantitative effects of certification, and 136 containing qualitative evidence to illuminate the barriers, enablers and other
contextual factors related to the effectiveness of certification. Particularly in terms of wages, 8 studies are used to produce a forest plot on wages. The authors find positive effects on prices and income from the sale of produce for certified producers. They find negative effects for workers’ wages and no effects on total household income. They conclude that context is highly significant and that there are multiple factors influencing the effectiveness of certification.