Max Havelaar Lecture

Poverty alleviation constitutes a multi-faceted problem. It is on the one hand extremely local and leads to enormous deprivation of at least half of the world’s population. But on the other hand, it is an extremely international problem as well through the operation of global markets – in particular of resources – and the functioning of value chains. It has increasingly become acknowledged that the role of corporations and the private sector is vital for sustainable solutions to poverty.

The Max Havelaar lecture stimulates the thinking on poverty issues in a balanced manner, without making use of the usual simplifications either in support or against the involvement of firms in development. The Max Havelaar Foundation is proof of this approach: it is aiming at a continuous improvement in its strategy towards labelling products – increasingly in a variety of partnerships with NGOs, corporations and governments.

Read more about the background, the aims and organization of the Max Havelaar Lecture

The Max Havelaar Lectures are organised by:

Lecture 2011

Fairtrade and Climate Change: risks and opportunities

Date: Thursday 27 October
Time: 19.00 - 21.30
Location: Forumzaal M-Building Erasmus University Rotterdam (route)

The main theme of the 2011 lecture will be the impact of climate change for small producers in developing countries. The objective is to go beyond risks and specifically address opportunities as well.

Speakers will be:

Prof. Dr. Atul Kumar from the prestigious The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in New Delhi will tell us all about climate friendly energy resources in developing countries.
Dr. Peter Baker from the Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International shows us the effects of climate change for coffee farmers in developing countries.
Drs. Gert de Gans of ICCO presents a new program in which certification, carbon credits and farmers are key elements.