Trade for Development Centre is a programme of Enabel, the Belgian development agency.
Linkedin Twitter Facebook-f Youtube

News and publications

Fair trade from Europe. Fair trade no longer an exclusive North-South story

October 28th 2014

Over the last forty years, fair trade has proved to be a strong development model built on a cup of coffee from Latin America and a chocolate bar from Africa. It is a way for consumers to fight existing inequalities between the North and the South. But what about our own farmers who are also victims of the existing agricultural model? Isn’t a Greek farmer entitled to a fair price for his produce? These issues have occupied European fair trade movements for a while. Over the last few years more and more concrete initiatives in the area have emerged.

Read more »

Fair trade brings hope to vanilla producers

October 28th 2014

Few crops are as labour-intensive and time-demanding as vanilla. After saffron, vanilla is the most expensive spice in the world. Still, it brings farmers in Madagascar and elsewhere little more than dire poverty. The vanilla value chain is a complex one and competition from synthetic vanilla is deadly. Fortunately, thanks to fair trade, some vanilla producers are hopeful for the future.

Read more »

Fair wages for farm labourers? Fair trade in search of better employment conditions in the weakest link of its value chain

October 28th 2014

Consumers relate fair trade to products of ‘small farmers’ who work in cooperatives. This image is not really correct because already in 1994 a first large tea plantation became fair trade certified. Twenty years later fair trade labels source bananas, tea, flowers and wine from large farm businesses, while the debate whether this is the way to go is still raging. Central to the debate is the living wage concept, a fair wage for all workers – including seasonal workers

Read more »

Made in Misery: Ethics in the garment industry after Rana Plaza

October 28th 2014

1138 Bangladeshi workers were found dead between loads of garments destined for the European and American markets after the six-floor Rana Plaza complex in the industrial outskirts of Dhaka collapsed on 24 April 2013. Asia’s largest industrial catastrophe – after Bhopal – did not only disclose construction shortcomings but also the race to the bottom in the garment sector, which this time led to a deadly finish. How have authorities, businesses, trade unions and NGOs responded? Does the consumer have any sustainable alternatives?

Read more »

Better market access for producers in four TDC projects

October 28th 2014

Better market access for producers in four Trade for Development Centre projects. What do Palestinian cooperatives, Peruvian loggers, Bolivian organic farmers and Congolese coffee growers have in common? They all look for a way out of poverty and conflict by strengthening their organisation and searching for markets for their improved products. To achieve that dream each of them received a real boost of the Trade for Development Centre.

Read more »

Market study: Fairtrade products in Kenya

October 23rd 2014

Fairtrade, the most widely recognised ethical label in the world was launched in Kenya in 2013. That’s why the TDC commissioned a study that will enable Fairtrade stakeholders to have a better understanding of consumers’ awareness and attitudes towards Fairtrade or ethical trade in general. The study highlights the shopping criteria and media consumption which define the potential for Fairtrade products in the Kenyan market.

Read more »

Fairytale: small fair trade gifts for all occasions

September 18th 2014

Barbara Brugmans is a woman of heart and extraordinary energy, and in her own way she makes her own contribution to cooperation with and for the benefit of women all over the world. Just ten years ago, she started her own online shop for fair trade almonds. In 2010 her efforts were rewarded with a Be Fair Award from the Trade for Development Centre.

Read more »

Belvas, a passion for chocolate and exports

September 7th 2014

Who would have thought that the pralines of a small mouscronnoise chocolate factory on the verge of bankruptcy, bought out almost ten years ago, would become an essential product in organic grocery shops around the world and find its place among the greatest Belgian chocolate makers, while respecting the principles of fair trade?

Read more »

Biodia: fair trade Italian pasta with fair trade Belgian milk

June 8th 2014

A farm where three generations share the work has almost become a curiosity. This is the case of De Zwaluw in Lovendegem, which also combines innovation and long-term vision with a fair and ecological way of working. A dream partner for the organic food wholesaler Biosano, which produces fair trade milk and milk chocolate under the Biodia label.

Read more »

Fair trade from Europe. Fair trade no longer an exclusive North-South story

October 28th 2014

Over the last forty years, fair trade has proved to be a strong development model built on a cup of coffee from Latin America and a chocolate bar from Africa. It is a way for consumers to fight existing inequalities between the North and the South. But what about our own farmers who are also victims of the existing agricultural model? Isn’t a Greek farmer entitled to a fair price for his produce? These issues have occupied European fair trade movements for a while. Over the last few years more and more concrete initiatives in the area have emerged.

Read more »

Fair trade brings hope to vanilla producers

October 28th 2014

Few crops are as labour-intensive and time-demanding as vanilla. After saffron, vanilla is the most expensive spice in the world. Still, it brings farmers in Madagascar and elsewhere little more than dire poverty. The vanilla value chain is a complex one and competition from synthetic vanilla is deadly. Fortunately, thanks to fair trade, some vanilla producers are hopeful for the future.

Read more »

Fair wages for farm labourers? Fair trade in search of better employment conditions in the weakest link of its value chain

October 28th 2014

Consumers relate fair trade to products of ‘small farmers’ who work in cooperatives. This image is not really correct because already in 1994 a first large tea plantation became fair trade certified. Twenty years later fair trade labels source bananas, tea, flowers and wine from large farm businesses, while the debate whether this is the way to go is still raging. Central to the debate is the living wage concept, a fair wage for all workers – including seasonal workers

Read more »

Made in Misery: Ethics in the garment industry after Rana Plaza

October 28th 2014

1138 Bangladeshi workers were found dead between loads of garments destined for the European and American markets after the six-floor Rana Plaza complex in the industrial outskirts of Dhaka collapsed on 24 April 2013. Asia’s largest industrial catastrophe – after Bhopal – did not only disclose construction shortcomings but also the race to the bottom in the garment sector, which this time led to a deadly finish. How have authorities, businesses, trade unions and NGOs responded? Does the consumer have any sustainable alternatives?

Read more »

Better market access for producers in four TDC projects

October 28th 2014

Better market access for producers in four Trade for Development Centre projects. What do Palestinian cooperatives, Peruvian loggers, Bolivian organic farmers and Congolese coffee growers have in common? They all look for a way out of poverty and conflict by strengthening their organisation and searching for markets for their improved products. To achieve that dream each of them received a real boost of the Trade for Development Centre.

Read more »

Market study: Fairtrade products in Kenya

October 23rd 2014

Fairtrade, the most widely recognised ethical label in the world was launched in Kenya in 2013. That’s why the TDC commissioned a study that will enable Fairtrade stakeholders to have a better understanding of consumers’ awareness and attitudes towards Fairtrade or ethical trade in general. The study highlights the shopping criteria and media consumption which define the potential for Fairtrade products in the Kenyan market.

Read more »

Fairytale: small fair trade gifts for all occasions

September 18th 2014

Barbara Brugmans is a woman of heart and extraordinary energy, and in her own way she makes her own contribution to cooperation with and for the benefit of women all over the world. Just ten years ago, she started her own online shop for fair trade almonds. In 2010 her efforts were rewarded with a Be Fair Award from the Trade for Development Centre.

Read more »

Belvas, a passion for chocolate and exports

September 7th 2014

Who would have thought that the pralines of a small mouscronnoise chocolate factory on the verge of bankruptcy, bought out almost ten years ago, would become an essential product in organic grocery shops around the world and find its place among the greatest Belgian chocolate makers, while respecting the principles of fair trade?

Read more »

Biodia: fair trade Italian pasta with fair trade Belgian milk

June 8th 2014

A farm where three generations share the work has almost become a curiosity. This is the case of De Zwaluw in Lovendegem, which also combines innovation and long-term vision with a fair and ecological way of working. A dream partner for the organic food wholesaler Biosano, which produces fair trade milk and milk chocolate under the Biodia label.

Read more »

Search

  • Filter on content

  • Filter on sector

Follow us

Subscribe to our newsletter

and stay informed on news and activities of TDC.
Subscribe now

This website uses cookies to make sure you have the best possible user experience.

OK