MATS Project Final Conference on the 19th and 20th of November 2024 & conference report

“MATS Project Final Conference Program on the 19th and 20th of November 2024 & Conference Report: Chen, Q. & B. Steiner (2024). Report of the Horizon 2020 MATS Project Final Conference, November 19-20, 2024, Brussels, Belgium, 27 pages.

MATS Project aims to identify key leverage points for changes in agricultural trade policy that foster the positive and reduce the negative impacts of trade on sustainable development and human rights. The focus is on improving the governance, design and implementation of trade practices, regimes and policies at national, EU, African and global levels.

The project’s final conference is to present MATS key findings, conclusions & policy implications, and to discuss joint policy lessons from MATS, Trade4SD and VCA4D. It is a hybrid event open to the public.

Practical Information

• Duration: 2 days.
• Location European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). Address: Rue Van Maerlant /Van Maerlantstraat 2, VMA22, Brussels, Belgium. Both participation onsite and online link to register here (you can attend sessions online in separate time slots).
• Timing: 19-20 November 2024.

Live Streaming Day 1 (Nov 19, 2024)

Live Streaming Day 2 (Nov 20, 2024)

Contents of the Conference

Day 1 (Nov 19, 2024)

Opening session – Welcome and Setting the scene (9:00-9:30 CET)

Session I – Social and Human Rights Considerations for Sustainable Agricultural Trade (9:30-10:50 CET)

Session II – Economy & Market Perspective (11:05-12:25 CET)

Session III – Modelling Techniques for Assessing Linkages between Trade Regimes, Market Dynamics, and Sustainability (13:25-14:45 CET)

Session IV – Governance, Trade Regimes and Transition Pathways to Sustainable Trade (15:00-17:10 CET)

Concluding remarks (17:10- 17:15 CET)

Day 2 (Nov 20, 2024)

Overview & introduction (9:20-9:30 CET)

Presentation “Lessons from Trade4SD” 45min (9:30-10:15 CET)

Presentation “Lessons from VCA4DEV” 45min (10:15-11:00 CET)

Presentation “Lessons from MATS” 45min (11:00-11:45 CET)

Audience Q&A 30min (11:45-12:15 CET)

Panel Discussion, Q&A, 90min (13:30-15:00 CET)

Concluding remarks (15:00-15:15 CET)

The full conference program can be accessed here

“Novel approaches and insights for evaluating sustainability of agricultural trade policies” on 23rd of May 2024

Online: Zoom (Registration Link)

To provide evidence-based knowledge for the IISD-initiated discussions on agriculture and trade in terms of sustainability challenges, Making Agricultural Trade Sustainable (MATS) and Trade for Sustainable Development (Trade4SD) projects work on identifying factors that foster the positive and reduce the negative linkages between trade and sustainable development from local to global level.

MATS project applies multi-methods analysis that consist of a set of 15 in-depth case studies (across Africa, Latin America, and Europe) and an integrated multi-model simulation and assessment of linkages between agricultural markets, trade, and investments. The integrated modelling framework consist of three modelling approaches: a participatory systems approach, customized quantitative systems model, and Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model. These together are used to forecast and assess the outcomes of policy intervention across sectors, economic actors, dimensions of development, over time and in space.

This meeting aims at creating a connection between science and policy, by discussing the relevance and usefulness of the modeling work carried out by two EU Horizon2020 MATS and Trade4SD projects to inform policymaking. International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) will discuss their applicability to policy formulation and evaluation.

TRADE4SD project aims to facilitate the policy-making process and to build trade negotiating capacity particularly in partner countries and in areas relevant to trade and sustainability. The modeling activities included in the project consider the links between trade, trade policies and sustainability at global level. TRADE4SD enhances the capacity of different existing partial and general equilibrium models (AGMEMOD, AGLINK/COSIMO, CGEBox and MAGNET) for the creation of comprehensive sustainability assessments of trade policies as well as for the development of new policies necessary to achieve the SDGs.

You can download the meeting flyer here

You can watch the recordings from the meeting below:

Workshop ‘Legal Dimensions of Agricultural Trade and Sustainability’ on 1st of March 2024

The online workshop took place on the 1st of March, bringing MATS and external experts together to discuss the legal dimensions of agricultural trade between the EU and other partners.

The first session discussed general issues of trade concerning the EU (unilateral measures in agricultural trade, FTAs, etc.).

The second session focused on general issues of agriculture and environment in trade agreements.

The third session was a roundtable on intellectual property aspects of agricultural trade.

You can check the full program here

You can see the recording of the workshop below:

Towards sustainable and fair agricultural trade Workshop on 5th of March 2024

What is the kind of agricultural trade we need and want moving forward? At European level, what can we do to become a trusted partner in the global agriculture supply chains? How to make agricultural trade more sustainable?

These and other fascinating questions will be the main topics of the conference we are organizing on 5 March 2024 in Brussels. 

We are delighted to invite you to this discussion of policy recommendations of the Make Agricultural Trade Sustainable project and TradeHub with Members of the European Parliament, civil society representatives, farmer organizations, and youth movements, and co-organized by the European Economic and Social Committee.  

Join us for what promises to be a rich and enlightening day towards sustainable and fair agricultural trade. 

Practical information:

• When? 5th of March 2024 9:00 am- 5:00 pm CET 
• Where? Rue Van Maerlant 2, 1040 Brussels; Room VMA21, Rue Van Maerlant Building, EESC
• The programme is detailed in the flyer. The morning will start with expert panel sessions focusing on considerations on social and environmental sustainability respectively. In the afternoon, we will continue to deepen the discussion between policy makers and decision-makers, creating an exchange between Policy and Practice. 

You can join us in person or digitally here

The recordings from the event are available below:

Transition Pathways and Policy Recommendations Workshop on 6th of March 2024

Practical information:

• When? 6th of March 2024 9:00 am- 15:30 CET
• Where? Avenue des Arts 7-8, 1210 Brussels, Belgium; Meeting room Artemisia, Mundo Madou
• Join in person? Register by sending an e-mail to petra.sandker@isi.fraunhofer.de (places are limited, so register quickly!!)

Download the workshop flyer here

Joint Workshop with TRADE4SD Project on 23rd of November 2023

A joint workshop of the two sister projects, TRADE4SD & MATS, will be held on November 23, 2023 (10:00-15:00 CET), in a hybrid format.  The WEBEX link can be found in the workshop agenda available here.  The focus of the joint workshop will be to report on the policy-related outcomes of the two sister projects.

From the MATS side, Mari Carlson, Sylvia Kay, and Jonathan Matthysen will be presenting at the joint workshop, as described below,

• 11:20-30: Mari Carlson (University of Helsinki): “MATS in 10 minutes: Who, what, and when to expect results? Underlining to whom i.e. policy relevance?”  [online]
• 11:30-12:00: Sylvia Kay (Transnational Institute, TNI): “Strengthening economic and ecological sustainability: policy insights from an analysis of agricultural trade between the EU, Tunisia and Egypt.” [in person, on site]

Project Workshop on “Making Agricultural Trade Sustainable” – 16th May 2023, 9:00 CET-12:00 CET

Time: 16^th May 2023 at 9.00-12.00 CET

Place: Maastricht University campus, Brussels, Tervurenlaan 153, 1150 Sint-Pieters-Woluwe, Belgium

Format: Hybrid – in-person & virtual

Are you a professional or researcher in the field of agricultural trade? Do you believe the agricultural trade system needs a rethink? Do the challenges ahead in the fields of social, environmental, or economic sustainability keep you busy? Join us in this workshop where we will, collectively with experts in the field, reflect on the future of our agricultural trade system.

The EU-funded MATS project identifies key leverage points for changes in agricultural trade policy that foster the positive and reduce the negative impacts of trade on sustainable development and human rights – at local, national, and global level – concentrating particularly on EU-Africa trade relations. The project consists of eight working packages and 15 case studies providing information about interactions between agricultural markets, trade and trade policy, investments, environmental sustainability, and human well-being. Our research is based on multi-method analyses, containing customized system dynamics models, computable general equilibrium models, and in-depth assessment of the environmental and social costs and benefits of agri-food value chains and trade.

The workshop intends to enable the exchange of views and provide an opportunity to contribute to further MATS work. The workshop is open for all agri-food trade practitioners, NGOs, researchers, and policymakers who want to hear from and provide input to making agricultural trade more sustainable in environmental, economic, and social terms, and to help us identify the investment-related aspects of sustainable agricultural trade. The workshop consists of three thematic presentations by external experts. Each presentation is followed by a 20-minute discussion, the first half of which is taken up by an invited discussant, and the remaining 10 minutes being reserved for open, general discussion. The seminar will be recorded and made available on the webpage of the MATS project.

The recording of the workshop is available below:

Αgenda 9:00-12:00 CET

9:00-9:15	Opening words and MATS introduction by Prof. Bodo Steiner (Coordinator of MATS & University of Helsinki) & Jonathan Matthysen (OXFAM)
9:15-9:25	Keynote Dr. Leonard Mizzi (DG INTPA), Head of Sustainable Agri-Food systems and Fisheries Unit (European Commission)
9:25-9:35	Q&A moderated by Prof. Bodo Steiner (University of Helsinki)
9:35-9:55	Radika Kumar, Adviser, Infrastructure Policy at the Trade Oceans and Natural Resources Directorate at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London – The Impact of Trade (in particular Agriculture Trade) on the Social Pillar
9:55-10:15	Discussion, moderated by Jonathan Matthysen (OXFAM) Discussant: Virginia Enssle, Project and Policy officer, Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO)
10:15-10:35	Coffee Break
10:35-10:50	Marianne Kettunen, GCRF Trade, Development, and the Environment Hub (TRADE Hub) – Environmental perspective on sustainable agricultural trade
10:50-11:10	Discussion moderated by Mari Carlson (University of Helsinki) Discussant: Shefali Sharma, Director, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)
11:10-11:25	Facundo Calvo, Agricultural Policy Analyst at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) – Multilateral perspectives on sustainable agricultural trade. How can the WTO contribute to move forward this agenda/at MC13?
11:25-11:45	Discussion, moderated by Prof. Bodo Steiner (University of Helsinki) Discussant: Frédéric Lançon, Scientific Director, Value Chain Analysis for Development, VCA4D
11:45-12:00	Wrap up and closing, Prof. Bodo Steiner (University of Helsinki)

MATS Interactive Online Workshop on the 28th of March 2022

In this interactive online workshop, we discussed with project-external and internal stakeholders key results of the status-quo analyses and jointly identified key questions and issues for further analyses.

The workshop recording is available here. Below you can see the starting and ending times of each presenter

Welcome and introduction to the EU funded MATS project (B. Steiner, University of Helsinki, Finland): 02:50 – 12:20

• Brief presentation
• Discussant ( C. Häberli, World Trade Institure, Bern University): 28:15 – 32:40
• Open discussion

• Brief presentation
• Discussant (J. Nalunga, Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI)): 41:10 – 47:25
• Open discussion

• Brief presentation )
• Discussant ( Shefali Sharma, Director European Office, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)): 1:12:00 – 1:20:20
• Open discussion

New orientations in EU level trade policy (J. Clarke, Director International, DG Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission): 1:21:15 – 1:35:20

• Brief presentation
• Discussant (S. Corbalán, Executive director, Fair Trade Advocacy Office):  1:36:40 – 1:43:35

Implications for further analyses in MATS (Interactive session using Menti and Klaxoon)