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

Click here to download the 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 until 14 September 2026 & indicate whether you are German or English speaking.
13:00 - 16:00	Arrival & Registration
16:30 - 17:00	Welcome of the Participants and Opening Tagungsraum
17:30 - 18:30	Panel Discussion: Sustainability Research Hub University of Cologne: “Trade and Just Sustainability Transformations between Global Dynamics and Local Contexts” Tagungsraum Participants 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 participants Chair: Boris Braun Stephanie Barrientos Michael Price Aurélie Carimentrand Christine Gent	Panel: Developments in Fair Trade School and Campus Programs Room: S13 View participants Chair: Darryl Reed Matthew Anderson Magdalena Śliwińska John Simoulidis	Panel: Sustainable and Fair Agri-Food Value Chains? -Sustainability and Resilience in Times of Crisis Room: S12 View participants Peter Dannenberg Amelie Bernzen Alex Follmann Anna Sting
11:00 - 11:30	Coffee Break
11:30 - 13:00		Panel: Power Dynamics I Room: S11 View participants Chair: Anna Sting Anne Tallontire Stephanie Barrientos Magdalena Śliwińska Ruerd Ruben	Access to Justice in Sustainability-Driven Value Chains: Human Rights, Remedies, and Producer Protection under the AfCFTA Room: S12 View participants 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 the Conference Room
14:15 - 14:30	Afternoon Check-in Tagungsraum
14:30 - 16:00	Panel: Power Dynamics II Room: S11 View participants Chair: Gerda Kuiper Allison Marchildon Patrick Clark Anke Kaulard Darryl Reed João Gabriel Rodrigues Telles Almeida	Workshop: Responsibility for fairness in a changing world economy: negotiations, contestations, definitions Room: S01 View participants Miriam Wenner Jutta Kister	Panel: Consumer Perspectives Room: S12 View participants 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 participants Anne Tallontire Seungkwon Jang	Panel: Impact Assessment Room: S12 View participants 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 participants Martin Schüller Chris N. Bayer Marike Runneboom de Peña 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 participants Lisa Fröhlich Johanna Pulheim Aiko Wichmann Marion Rumpl Fabian Kusch 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 the Conference Room
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 participants 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 participants Chair: Andrea Reyes	Panel: The Role of Law in Establishing and Maintaining Fair Trade Room: S11 View participants 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 participants 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 participants Chair: Nsah Mala	Workshop: Fair Trade Without Growth? Income, Volume and Sustainability under Ecological Constraints Room: S11 View participants Wouter van Tongeren
17:30 - 19:00	Keynote: Marike Runneboom de Peña (Interim Global CEO of Fairtrade International) Tagungsraum
19:00	Reception