The Fairtrade in India Conference 2025, titled “Sustainability, Markets & Impact,” recently concluded in Bengaluru with a clear message: producers must be central to the future of sustainable supply chains. The two-day event, which wrapped up on September 10, 2025, convened more than 250 stakeholders, including producers, policymakers, and brand representatives, to explore methods for embedding fairness and climate resilience into global markets. Support for the conference was provided by the European Union’s SWITCH-Asia Programme and EC FFPA.

A central theme was the importance of collaboration across the entire value chain. India’s role was highlighted, with its 100,000 Fairtrade farmers and workers being presented as leaders in sustainable trade. The discussions spanned a variety of sectors, with a significant focus on textiles and apparel. A session on decarbonization showcased how industry clusters like Tirupur are transitioning to more sustainable practices. Speakers also discussed how Fairtrade premiums are being used to support producer communities, with examples such as Shilajit Roy of United Nilgiris Tea Estates noting their reinvestment in healthcare and education.

The growing recognition of biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More was a notable point of discussion. Nandakumar Rajagopalan from Chetna Organic referenced regenerative practices, including biochar and tree belts, as “the backbone of climate-proof agriculture.” This statement reinforces the material’s increasing acceptance within agricultural circles as a tool for enhancing resilience. Another example came from Sreekumar of Manarcadu Social Service Society, who shared that communities recovering from the 2018 floods in Kerala are now pioneering the use of biochar alongside water conservation and digital farm mapping. These specific, on-the-ground examples illustrate the practical application of biochar in regions facing climate challenges.

The conference, therefore, served as a platform to showcase these innovations and integrate them into the broader narrative of ethical and future-ready global trade, moving beyond traditional sustainability models to embrace tangible, climate-smart solutions. Biochar’s growing recognition at wide-reaching conferences like this appears to be a sign of what is to come within the biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More and agricultural industries.

SOURCE: Fairtrade India 2025 Conference Puts Producers at the Heart of Global Supply Chains