Fairtrade India 2025 conference puts producers at the heart of global supply chains

VMPL
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 11: The Fairtrade in India Conference 2025 - Sustainability, Markets & Impact concluded in Bengaluru with a clear message: sustainability must be mainstreamed into global trade, and producers must remain central to shaping the future of supply chains. Over two days, more than 250 stakeholders--including producers, policymakers, brands, and Fairtrade leaders--examined pathways to embed fairness, climate resilience, and transparency into global markets. The event was supported by the European Union's SWITCH-Asia Programme and EC FFPA.
Opening the plenary, Franck Viault, Minister Counsellor, EU Delegation to India and Bhutan, underlined the strategic dimension of EU-India cooperation: "The future of trade must be sustainable, inclusive, and fair. Together, we can transform supply chains into engines of resilience, equity, and prosperity--ensuring producers are leaders in shaping sustainable growth." Lisa Prassack, CEO of Fairtrade International, added that "the true measure of progress is when every farmer can sell 100% of their produce on fair terms. Producers must lead the transition to climate-resilient, fairer global markets."
Industry leaders echoed the call for systemic change. Blaise Desbordes, CEO of Max Havelaar France, highlighted India's role in building credible, traceable alternatives to exploitative trade, while, stressed that "economic success and social responsibility can reinforce one another." Bindu S, Chairperson, Fairtrade NAPP, reinforced India's leadership role: "India's 100,000 Fairtrade farmers and workers are redefining sustainable trade. Fairtrade is not charity--it is justice, dignity, and partnership, and when producers are decision-makers, markets become future-ready and transformative."
Textiles and apparel featured prominently, with a session on decarbonisation showcasing how industry clusters like Tirupur are driving sustainability. Prarthana Bora, Momentum India, said: "Decarbonisation is urgent--collaboration is the only way to make the transition just and equitable." Farmers brought the ground-level perspective, with Nandakumar Rajagopalan of Chetna Organic noting that regenerative practices such as biochar and tree belts are "the backbone of climate-proof agriculture."
The debate on EU sustainability regulations reflected both opportunity and concern. Jorge Conesa of the FairTrade Advocacy Office pointed out that while compliance increases costs, "producers who adapt can build stronger trust and market advantage." Franck Viault added that regulations should be seen not as barriers but as pathways to future-ready trade.
Fashion brands Being Human and Indian Terrain presented their Fairtrade journeys, underscoring that style and sustainability must go hand-in-hand. Vivek Sandhwar, CEO, Being Human, observed that "Gen Z and Gen Alpha demand both ethics and transparency in fashion," while Indian Terrain's CEO, Charath Narasimhan, said Fairtrade must become "the 'Intel Inside' of sustainability--a trusted assurance consumers actively seek."
Sustainable livelihoods remained a cross-cutting theme. Shilajit Roy of United Nilgiris Tea Estates shared how premiums are reinvested in healthcare and education, while Krishnendu Chatterjee of Nature Bio Foods argued that India itself must emerge as a Fairtrade market, linking every product to a tangible impact story. Pravakar Meher, Chairman of Fairtrade NAPP, added: "Fairtrade premiums are vital, but not enough. We need business, government, and NGOs to partner in scaling renewable energy, resilient farming, and quality training."
Day Two spotlighted climate action, with producers showcasing innovations from tea to cotton. Indranil Ghosh of Chamong Group outlined investments in LPG, solar, hydro and biochar across tea estates, while Avinash Karmakar of Pratibha Vasudha Jaivik Krishi Kalyan Samiti showed how regenerative practices and non-GM seeds are turning cotton carbon negative. Amit Singh of Nature Bio Foods described climate-smart practices like laser land levelling and carbon sequestration as "win-win solutions for farmers, markets, and the planet." From Kerala, Sreekumar of Manarcadu Social Service Society highlighted how communities recovering from the 2018 floods are now pioneering biochar, water conservation, and digital farm mapping.
The session on producer voices reinforced that Fairtrade's legitimacy rests on inclusivity. Raghavendra Shastry, NAPP Board Representative, said producer realities must guide policy. Anjali Mittal of Pratibha-Vasudha Jaivik Krishi Kalyan Samiti highlighted women-led enterprises doubling family incomes through bio-inputs, while youth representative Sikander Singh urged Fairtrade to create pathways for agripreneurship: "With skills and support, young people can see farming not as a burden, but as an opportunity."
As the conference closed, Abhishek Jani, CEO, Fairtrade India, summed up: "The future of sustainable sourcing depends on aligning consumer demand with producer empowerment. India is well-placed to lead that transformation."
The conference also marked the launch of Mosegi India Pvt. Ltd. and its Fairtrade-powered brand MOSEGI--a slow fashion label blending Indian weaves, Fairtrade cotton, and solar-powered production with an 82% women-led workforce.
The two-day dialogue reaffirmed that Fairtrade is not just a certification system but a movement--anchored in justice, partnership, and climate resilience--driving a fairer model of global trade.
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