SBS Dateline | A Change In The Air

Aaron Lewis reports on the green initiative which could spell disaster for third world farmers.

He's travelled to the Kenyan highlands where the soil and climate combine to make some of the richest agricultural land in the world. Local farmers have made a booming business out of air freighting their organic fruit and vegetables to the dinner tables of Europe.

But now first world concerns about carbon emissions are threatening their livelihood.

Some European countries have begun to label foods in supermarkets in terms of its 'food miles', and the UK's most powerful organic body is considering witholding its certification from all air freighted produce.

The moves have African advocacy groups angry at what they see as yet another barrier to trade.

"It's not Africans who are causing global warming, it's the developed countries who are causing global warming. But who is suffering more - it's Africans."

It's a problem which is bringing Europe and Africa head-to-head over two of the most important issues of our times - developing the third world, and the fight against global warming.

On air: 24th October 2007