The conference discussed the ‘Fairtrade University' scheme, and speakers and delegates shared experiences and challenges in reaching the goals to achieve Fairtrade status.

The Fairtrade Universities and Colleges scheme started in 2003 when Oxford Brookes University became the first Fairtrade University. It was quickly joined by the University of Birmingham, when the initiative really took off as People & Planet groups across the country took up the challenge.

There are now 72 Fairtrade universities and colleges around the UK, with many more working towards gaining Fairtrade status. In order to become a Fairtrade university or college, students and university staff have to make a commitment to supporting Fairtrade. They ensure that Fairtrade products are available in as many cafes, restaurants and shops as possible, and they raise awareness of Fairtrade and the benefits that it brings to producers in developing countries within the university community.

Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation and keynote speaker at the conference explains: "When a university joins the Fairtrade movement, it is an important recognition of the individual person's global responsibility. Thousands of young people pass through the doors of universities every year and many already care passionately about Fairtrade and want to feel pride in the values espoused by their educational establishment.

"However, with two billion people earning less than $2 a day, much more still needs to be done to extend the benefits of Fairtrade to as many farmers in the developing world as possible. Through using Fairtrade products, university procurement managers and students alike can make a real difference to communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The out of home sector is the fastest growing area for Fairtrade, and university and college campuses can help bring about real change through their engagement with Fairtrade".

Fairtrade Foundation licensees (that is, companies that sell Fairtrade products) carried out sampling to delegates. These included Peros, Single Source, Equality Wines, Matthew Algie, Premcrest, ThreadMe, Ascension, Equality Wines, La Riojana, Ubuntu and The Co-operative.

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/

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