ITC publications bring the business voice to sustainable trade, with a focus on developing countries. We offer guidance for trade policymakers, business support organizations and small firms. Our reports offer insights to make trade more inclusive, green, digital and competitive.
Voluntary sustainability standards continue their growth across the world. This third global report provides new insights into the evolution of certified agriculture and forestry. ITC has teamed up once more with the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and the International Institute...
The question of how standards impact trade is more relevant than ever. Against the background of a world economy that is global in scope and organization with economic activities being spread across national boundaries, the liberalization of trade has been one factor contributing to a policy shift...
This report on the ITC World Export Development Forum on Consumers, Ethics and Environment (October 2008), reflects on what ethical trade means, the growth in the global fair trade and ethical markets, how entrepreneurs in developing countries can break into these markets, and what trade support...
Coffee is the world's most important agricultural crop in terms of trade volumes; it is exported by 60 countries and is one of the few major commodities grown predominantly by smallholder farmers. This report: presents an overview of the market trends for coffee certified as ‘sustainable’ over...
The demand for organic wild collected products is significant. Products for direct food consumption, such as berries, nuts, mushrooms and a large number of herbs are the main items. This publication discusses terminology used in wild collection, gives an overview of organic and other standards that...
This report has been prepared by the ITC Technical Assistance Team to provide a background to the current state of play of organic agriculture in Thailand, and offers an assessment of key issues for the supply chain, including production, marketing, research, training and extension...
Saffron, the world’s most expensive spice, offers great potential for Afghan exporters. Developing a consistent brand for quality is the key to unlocking a ‘red gold’ rush, a priority sector of Afghanistan’s national export strategy. This guide outlines how to build a quality saffron...
While standards play an increasingly important role in international trade and global value chains, little is known about their actual impacts in these chains. By applying a systematic literature approach, The Impacts of Private Standards on Global Value Chains aims to apply the key research...
The coffee sector has a huge potential to contribute to poverty alleviation in East Africa, but the sector’s development is hampered by a lack of savings and credit facilities. Moreover, women’s access to financial services is even more restricted than that of men, and most women in rural areas...
The issue of climate change has grown in importance as seen through the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol and issues such as “food miles”. ‘Food miles’ is a relatively recent issue which has arisen in the United Kingdom, Germany and other countries over food...
The Canadian market for organic food and beverages (2004) is meant to focus on those aspects of the Canadian market that are of most interest to producers and exporters in developing countries, although it may hopefully be of interest to other readers as well. It gives practical information on...
Saffron, the world’s most expensive spice, offers great potential for Afghan exporters. Developing a consistent brand for quality is the key to unlocking a ‘red gold’ rush, a priority sector of Afghanistan’s national export strategy.This guide outlines how to build a quality saffron sector...
