The Fair Trade Towns campaign began in the UK in 2000 with five criteria, which were later adopted worldwide. In 2004, Belgium was the first country to add a sixth criterion: connecting the campaign to the local food chain.

With this sixth criterion, we aim to build a bridge between the Global North and Global South and to support farmers worldwide. Some products can be grown locally, and we’re happy to source them from our own region. Other products, however, can only be grown in different climates, and for those farmers and products we also want to ensure fair prices and strong social and ecological standards.

Today, strengthening local, sustainable and fair food systems and linking them to the global context, has become a key theme in many networks.

This session combines strategic reflection with hands-on inspiration. After a short introduction, three speakers will showcase how this integration can work in practice.

Participants will be invited to engage in an interactive dialogue about opportunities, risks and their own practical experiences.

With contributions from:

• Eline Mechels, communications officer at Voedsel Anders, introduces the Food.Film.Fest. A community-led documentary and film festival that raises public awareness of the link between agroecology, global justice and local action. An accessible way to raise awareness and inform the residents of your Fair Trade Town.

  Voedsel Anders is a Flemish network of organisations committed to agroecology. In Flanders, they have been working closely with the Fair Towns network for four years.

• A Belgian city-wide food coordinator connecting fair trade, local production, and sustainable consumption.
  City and speaker to be confirmed.

• A European example showing how cities combine Fairtrade Towns with broader food policies.
  City and speaker to be confirmed.

• This session will be led by Hannelore Tyskens, programme officer at Rikolto. Rikolto is an NGO partner in the Flemish Fair Towns campaign, with extensive experience in supporting local, sustainable food policies and in establishing links with international cities that are developing similar approaches to food.