Why does the Journal of Fair Trade Exist?

The Journal of Fair Trade, published by Pluto Journals, started in 2018 as a response to the debate, division and argument around the diversification of approaches to fair trade and the lack of narrative and cohesion in thinking about what fair trade is, or should be. This was happening at the same time as watching some of the best practices and practical efforts on the ground being eclipsed and stripped of contentious propositions - like ‘fairness’, redistribution, regeneration, partnership - by other concepts such as sustainability, ethical trade and ESG. So, the Journal is meant to be a platform, a source of evidence-based guidance and a place and means to reboot the fair trade movement.

A main aim of The Journal of Fair Trade is to make a direct link between people who do things, and people who think about them and study them. We publish many voices: academics, producers, coop leaders, researchers, people practicing fair trade and those whose efforts are pushing the front line. Many non-academics and activists have been mentored into the Journal pages already. The range of subjects published so far is very broad.

The Journal has an inclusive and holistic approach: it is not trying to say what's right, which practice, experience, or variant of Fair Trade is best, but to publish genuine and credible work on what is good and so help others to see, learn, apply these models, lessons and ideas.

The Journal of Fair Trade is meant to be critical but inspiring too.

Why is Open Access really important, but also a challenge?

Four years since launching, we’ve transitioned to Open Access, gained DOAJ approval, and can be read here within our ScienceOpen Collection. Alongside the move to Open Access we've been developing a new structure -the Journal of Fair Trade Society - to guide and support the Journal of Fair Trade in coming years.

Open Access has been spectacular for the Journal of Fair Trade:
from a few university libraries to many thousands of readers worldwide. It's exciting to watch this transformation on Science Open, with its deep information and data system showing who, how many, and from where, the Journal of Fair Trade is being accessed, and what is being read.

However, there are challenges too. With libraries no longer paying subscriptions it’s vital for The Journal of Fair Trade, and other Pluto Journals, to reinvent the ‘business model’. This is particularly the case for journals like ours which are not ‘hosted’ by a larger, funded institution. So we are open for and trying many options!

Next Steps from the Journal of Fair Trade meetings

JoFT Society members and supporters aim to meet every 6 months, May and November.

The JoFT Society had its Inaugural meeting in November 2022 . Here you can read the Nov 2022 Inaugural Meeting report . Here you can watch the Nov 2022 Keynote Address by Mohammed Elnaiem, University of Cambridge, on "Fair Trade In A New World Economic Order"

This month's Journal of Fair Trade Society 4th Meeting on 9 May 2024, 3 - 5pm GMT is a big meeting of Journal of Fair Trade Supporters and members! Please click here to register on Eventbrite. 
 
We are going to discuss the future of the Journal of Fair Trade and the formal formation of a Fair Trade Society to reboot the thinking and ways we can all amplify the voices of the fair trade movement. We have collated ideas and priorities from consultations (Feb-April) and will be sharing a proposition/action paper for discussion and decision. Please join us!

If you would like to see the 3 papers in advance please click below:

JoFT - Futures, Finances and Activities May 2024 - Discussion Paper

Special JOFT Issue on The life, work and legacy of Franz van der Hoff

Pluto Journals Annual Impact Report 2023 JoFT

The JoFT Society has had its second and third meetings on 4th May 2023 and 2 Novembers 2023. Here you can read the respective notesMay 2023 JoFT Society Meeting report and the 2 Nov 2023 JoFT Society Meeting report .

The JoFT Society 2 Nov 2023 discussed “Could we be more than the sum of our parts?” and consultation meetings were held Jan 18, Feb 15 and March 14 to Mar 2024. Output has been collated for discussion on 9th May.