Fairtrade Foundation plans celebrations ahead of 30-year anniversary

With 2024 marking three decades of the Fairtrade Mark, the organisation behind it in the UK is planning to celebrate the achievements of the movement.

There are now more than 6,000 Fairtrade products in the UK, and the number is growing all the time. Globally, millions of farmers and workers in 70 countries are part of 1,930 Fairtrade certified producer organisations, benefitting from stable prices, community facilities such as education, healthcare and clean water which Fairtrade has funded, access to training and a platform for their voices to be heard.

And now, with 2024 marking the 30^th anniversary of the Fairtrade Mark, the Fairtrade Foundation is planning a range of initiatives, including moving Fairtrade Fortnight from its usual February date to September, when the anniversary takes place.

Fairtrade Foundation CEO, Mike Gidney, commented: “We are incredibly excited to be able to mark this very important milestone. Fairtrade is all about building a fairer future for people in low-income countries who grow and make the things we rely on every day: our food, our clothes. Thirty years on, we estimate that 10m people, including farmers, workers and their families across Africa, Latin America, and Asia benefit from sales of their products on Fairtrade terms.

“That’s an amazing achievement and is thanks to the increasing dedication of companies in changing the way they trade, driven by huge, unstinting support from the British public. Of course, there is still so much to be done. Even while we celebrate the achievements of the Fairtrade movement, and the inspirational commitments of campaigners, communities and companies alike, we are as ambitious as we were on day one to bring the benefits of Fairtrade to more people.

“There will be many opportunities to celebrate this year, many stories of the inspiring people who have worked hard to build the Fairtrade movement over the years, bringing lasting change not only to farmers, but also to companies in the UK and to public attitudes too. We know from research that consumers want to be part of the change. That’s a wonderful mandate for companies to join in, so that together we really can make trade fair for everyone.”

Organic leaders work to educate on differences with regenerative farming

Two of the UK’s biggest organic certifiers have created a new set of infographics to raise awareness of the differences between organic and regenerative farming.

Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G) and the Soil Association are working together to shine a light on the positive outcomes that organic delivers. This latest collaboration has led to the development of a series of infographics that position organic’s restorative approach within the context of other farming systems.

The graphics have been produced in response to increasingly confusing and conflated messaging currently being promoted in the media and wider industry. Their aim is to provide greater clarity by identifying the differences and commonalities between alternative farming practices.

OF&G Chief Executive, Roger Kerr, believes the work provides a useful reference and framework for anyone working in the sector.

“We continue to take a pragmatic approach to how best to support our organic licensees and engage with other interested parties,” he advised. “Our intention was to create some reference materials that demonstrate how organic tackles the fundamental challenges that our food systems and environment face.

“For over 70 years, the organic movement has been the conscientious objector to today’s degenerative and exploitative farming practises. It is frustrating that it has come to this. Continuing to feed people in the face of climate and biodiversity collapse, high levels of pollution and deforestation is a complex problem, and complex problems require versatile and multifaceted solutions – like organic. These three infographics show this solution simply and clearly.”

Controversial vegan campaign to hit billboards

A new campaign designed to encourage people to go vegan has sparked debate ahead of its launch on billboards next week.

On April 29, the campaign will be launched by Animal Justice Project across five major UK cities. The billboards will display eye-catching photos taken from inside British egg farms, challenging viewers to rethink their food choices and consider going vegan. Spread across Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Hove, and London, these 6x3m billboards are expected to reach an audience of more than 1.4 million people. With messages like ‘There is no such thing as an ethical egg’, ‘Don’t buy the lie’, and ‘Not an egg machine’, coupled with real-life images of British egg-laying hens, the campaign organisers say it pulls no punches.

Animal Justice Project says that while industry paints an idyllic picture image of egg farming where happy birds roam free in fields, the reality is far darker. This campaign seeks to expose and share the unsettling truths hidden from British consumers. The campaign’s artwork made its debut on social media, sparking heated debates. While some questioned the economic implications for farmers, others defended their food choices.

Ayrton Cooper, Campaigns Manager at Animal Justice Project, commented: “Marketing by the egg industry paints an idyllic image of cage-free farms but the reality is very different. Our undercover work shows frightful abuses, commonplace across several RSPCA Assured egg farms. Our billboards will combat this misinformation and bridge the gap between consumer knowledge and farm truths. When shoppers are inside the supermarket, they can instead choose plant-based products, rather than reaching for eggs, which are responsible for the suffering and killing of millions of hens every year.”