Nearly 300 Fairtrade supporters from across the world have been formally invited to Bristol ahead of it hosting the 2015 International Fair Trade Towns Conference.
The event will form a key part of the city’s year as European Green Capital and will strengthen Bristol’s status as one of the world’s leading Fairtrade cities
The baton was handed over to Bristol at the 8th International Fair Trade Towns Conference in Kumamoto, Japan, last weekend.
Bristol Fairtrade co-ordinator Jenny Foster, one of six UK delegates at the event, led two workshops as well as concluding the conference by inviting the 270 delegates from 21 countries to Bristol.
The official handover was made by chair of Kumamoto Fairtrade steering committee, Shoko Akashi,
The International Fair Trade Towns Conference in 2015 in Bristol will focus on the theme of Fairtrade and sustainability as part of the city's celebrations as European Green Capital.
Jenny said delegates in Japan were very enthusiastic about coming to Bristol to learn about its successful environmental, Fairtrade and sustainable food policies.
Fairtrade supports sustainable food production and a low carbon society through strict environmental standards, supporting smallholder farming methods and training for farmers on climate change adaptation.
The Fairtrade Towns movement started in the UK, with Bristol becoming a Fairtrade City in 2005.
Kumamoto is the first Fairtrade Town in Asia, though campaigns are now starting in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea. Many universities in Asia are working towards becoming Fairtrade universities.
Bristol won the bid to host the 9th International Fair Trade Towns Conference in 2015 because of its strong record for Fairtrade and the interest in how Fairtrade links with other sustainability issues.
2015 will also mark Bristol’s 10 years as a Fairtrade City. The Conference will be held 4th-5th July 2015 as part of European Green Capital programme.
Pictured: Jenny Foster, Bristol and South West Fairtrade Co-ordinator, inviting the International Fair Trade delegates to Bristol in 2015 at the close of the 2014 conference in Kumamoto
