Fairtrade 2026–2028 Strategy sharpens focus on farmer resilience amid global uncertainty

Fairtrade International has updated its strategy for 2026–2028, which aims to build farmer resilience and advance fair and sustainable trade for key commodities like coffee, cocoa, tea, bananas, and spices. It comes amid a climate of political instability, increasing climate change impacts, evolving consumer values, and an expanding regulatory market.

The emphasis of the Global Fairtrade Strategy 2026-2028 is to prepare producers and businesses for future trade challenges at a time of growing global uncertainty impacting the worldwide food and beverage industry.

The non-profit organization’s three-year plan has three main goals. The first is to foster sustainable livelihoods by helping farmers and workers earn fairer incomes and improve living standards through practical, updated Fairtrade programs. 

The second is to advance resilient and fair supply chains by boosting transparency, traceability, and market access with innovative sourcing solutions. Finally, it aims to inspire a collective commitment by strengthening farmer and worker voices and uniting partners to drive wider adoption of ethical and sustainable trade.

Consumer trust and engagement

Fairtrade will use digital tools and data to support farmers and partners, while expanded fundraising fuels training and development programs.

By 2028, Fairtrade envisions resilient, prosperous farmer and worker conditions, fairer supply chains, and stronger trust and engagement in the system.

“If this Global Strategy is impactful as we intend it to be, belief, trust, credibility, and participation in the Fairtrade system will have grown thanks to expanding and new partnerships, as well as consumer interest in Fairtrade products,” Marike Runneboom de Peña, global CEO of Fairtrade International says.

“Fairtrade was built for moments like this. With decades of experience supporting farmers and workers through market, climate, and supply chain disruptions, we know what is needed. Now is the time to pivot, strengthen resilience, and ensure farmers and workers are better equipped to face today’s challenges and those ahead.” 

Fairtrade champions its plan as “bold and innovative,” building on decades of experience to “navigate change” and “go beyond the mark” to change the status quo.