The Fair Trade International Symposium (FTIS) 2026 takes place at the University of Cologne, Germany and can also be accessed online.

The conference venue is the "Seminar Building", which is located close to the main building of the University.

Seminar Building:

Preliminary Program

Day 1 – 23.09.2026

13:00 - 15:00 15:30 - 16:30	Guided Tour: On the Trail of Fair-Trade Chocolate Please register by email to ftis-2026@uni-koeln.de & indicate whether you are German or English speaking.
13:00 - 16:00	Arrival & Registration
16:30 - 17:00	Welcome of the Participants and Opening Speakers Prof. Dr. Kirk W. Junker (Vice Rector for Sustainability, University of Cologne) Prof. Dr. Boris Braun (Institute of Geography, University of Cologne) FTIS Steering Group GSSC Housekeeping Moderation: Charlotte Lonitz
17:30 - 18:30	Panel Discussion: Sustainability Research Hub University of Cologne: “Trade and Just Sustainability Transformations between Global Dynamics and Local Contexts” Tagungsraum Speakers Marc-Oliver Bettzüge (University of Cologne) Peter Dannenberg (University of Cologne) Gerda Kuiper (University of Cologne) Moderation: Tatiana López-Julies (University of Cologne)
19:00	Welcome Snack

Day 2 – 24.09.2026

9:00 - 9:30

Arrival & Registration

9:30 - 11:00	Panel: Geo-Political Challenges Room: S11 View speakers Chair: Boris Braun Stephanie Barrientos Michael Price Aurélie Carimentrand Christine Gent		Panel: Sustainable and Fair Agri-Food Value Chains? -Sustainability and Resilience in Times of Crisis Room: S12 View speakers Peter Dannenberg Amelie Bernzen Alex Follmann Anna Sting Olof Ronny Lindström
11:00 - 11:30	Coffee Break
11:30 - 13:00	Panel: Developments in Fair Trade School and Campus Programs Room: S13 View speakers Chair: Darryl Reed Matthew Anderson Magdalena Śliwińska John Simoulidis	Panel: Power Dynamics I Room: S11 View speakers Chair: Anna Sting Anne Tallontire & Stephanie Barrientos Patrick Clark & Anke Kaulard Ruerd Ruben	Access to Justice in Sustainability-Driven Value Chains: Human Rights, Remedies, and Producer Protection under the AfCFTA Room: S12 View speakers Margaux Dubois Janet Momoh Solomon Ezike
13:00 - 14:15	Lunch Break
13:30 - 14:00	Brown Bag Meeting: Special Issue Journal of Fair Trade with Pauline Tiffen (Editor-in-Chief) in Room S01 more
14:15 - 14:30	Afternoon Check-in Tagungsraum
14:30 - 16:00	Panel: Power Dynamics II Room: S11 View speakers Chair: Gerda Kuiper Darryl Reed Magdalena Śliwińska Allison Marchildon	Workshop: Responsibility for fairness in a changing world economy: negotiations, contestations, definitions Room: S01 View speakers Miriam Wenner Jutta Kister	Panel: Consumer Perspectives Room: S12 View speakers Amelie Bernzen Eszter Toth Andrea Reyes Ida Fartsi Ivan Dufeu Rebecca Anns
16:00 - 16:30	Coffee Break
16:30 - 18:00	Keynote Sebastian Koos: Hope, Accountability, and Backlash: Fair Trade and the Technologies of Responsibility in Global Supply Chains Tagungsraum
18:00	Conference Event (Walking Tour & Dinner)

Day 3 – 25.09.2026

08:00 - 08:30

Arrival & Registration

8:30 - 10:00	Panel: Universities and fair trade: engaging with tensions and opportunities through the lens of education for sustainability Room: S13 View speakers Anne Tallontire Seungkwon Jang	Panel: Impact Assessment Room: S12 View speakers Nsah Mala Thomas Hoyer Gilbert Nsabimana Eva Boonaert Alexandra Stankovich Prasuna Saakha Nabendra Shrestha	Panel: Agroecology Implementation in the Fairtrade System – Challenges & Chances Room: S11 View speakers Martin Schüller Brenda Huerta Garcia
10:00 - 10:30	Coffee Break
10:30 - 12:00	Panel Discussion City of Cologne: "How Local Authorities Can Make a Difference - Fair Public Procurement and Sustainable Governance" Tagungsraum View speakers Lisa Fröhlich Johanna Pulheim Aiko Wichmann Marion Rumpl Fabian Kusch Moderation: Bettina Fruchtmann
12:00 - 13:15	Lunch Break
12:30 - 13:00	Brown Bag Meeting: Special Issue Journal of Fair Trade with Pauline Tiffen (Editor-in-Chief) in Room S01 more
13:15 - 13:30	Afternoon Check-in Tagungsraum
13:30 - 15:00	Panel: When the Map Moves: The Changing Dynamics of Fair Trade between North and South Room: S12 View speakers Giorgia Dal Fabbro Peter van Dam Matthew Anderson Silvia Nuria Jurado Celis	Workshop: Guided By Community: Stories, Reflection, and Building Stronger Fair Trade Networks Room: S13 View speakers Chair: Andrea Reyes	Panel: The Role of Law in Establishing and Maintaining Fair Trade Room: S11 View speakers Kirk Junker Anna Sting Edward Amankwah Margaux Dubois Elisabeth Bennett
15:00 - 15:30	Coffee Break
15:30 - 17:00	Workshop: Agroforestry –new perspective for (coffee) farmers Room: S12 View speakers Chairs: Thomas Hoyer & Gilbert Nsabimana	BRIDGES Cologne Policy Workshop: Exploring the Futures of Fair Trade in the Global South through Participatory Foresight Room: S13 View speakers Chair: Nsah Mala	Workshop: Fair Trade Without Growth? Income, Volume and Sustainability under Ecological Constraints Room: S11 View speakers Wouter van Tongeren
17:30 - 19:00	Keynote: Marike Runneboom de Peña (Interim Global CEO of Fairtrade International) Official Farewell in the Conference Room (Tagungsraum) Speakers Prof. Dr. Boris Braun (Institute of Geography, University of Cologne) FTIS Steering Group Moderation: Charlotte Lonitz
19:00	Reception