The conference consisted of plenary sessions and four expert
discussions in workshop format, each addressing one of these
issues. At the end of each expert discussion, the participants
summarised the key points and formulated proposals on how to tackle
some of the dilemmas facing us today.

The issues under discussion were:
Trade and agriculture: Current debates and controversies:

The current system of global economic governance needs to be
fundamentally reformed. Double standards in international trade
must be eradicated and a fair playing field for all must be
ensured. This year's BGG conference took place about a month after
the failure of the World Trade Organisation ministerial conference
at Cancun, Mexico. The conference provided a valuable opportunity
to reflect on the outcome of the Cancun summit and on the future of
the multilateral trade framework. Finally, how can we address the
problem of falling prices of agricultural commodities?
Representatives of the World Trade Organization, governments,
farmers, and civil society representatives were among the
panelists.

Transnational Corporations: Sustainability, accountability and
partnership:

While increasing numbers of corporations welcome the concept of
sustainable development as a means of achieving both share-holder
value and social and environmental change, NGOS often argue that
there is a lack of tangible results. Today, multi-stakeholders'
partnerships, good governance, voluntary self-regulation and
corporate social responsibility (CSR) codes are on the top of the
agenda for corporations facing the challenges of globalisation. Are
these internal strategies effective in achieving the desired level
of change and reflecting the "triple bottom line" of profit, social
responsibility and sustainable development? What should be done in
order to make them work better? Or are critics from NGOS and civil
society right when they stress the importance of "outside"
approaches, involving the external regulation of corporate
activities at local, national and international levels? Are
synthetic combined approaches that provide external evaluation of
adherence to voluntary codes, such as the Global Reporting
Initiative, effective and desired? How, given these differing
agendas, can a multi-stake-holder partnership evolve and operate in
order to meet the pressing needs of today? Representatives of the
corporate sector, civil society organisations, and lawyers
participated in this workshop.