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