As the global community strives to combat climate change and resource depletion, transitioning to a low-carbon and circular food system has become imperative. This paradigm emphasizes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing resource efficiency, and minimizing waste while ensuring sustainable production and equitable distribution of nutritious food. Achieving these objectives requires multi- and interdisciplinary research, and practices that integrate socioeconomic policies, behavioral insights, and technological innovations. China, as one of the world's largest food producers and consumers, faces unique challenges in this food system transition due to its rapid economic development, urbanization, and evolving dietary patterns. These challenges also present opportunities to pioneer innovative solutions that can inspire global efforts toward sustainable food systems.
The international conference “Towards a Low-Carbon and Circular Food System” aims to highlight groundbreaking research and practices from social and natural sciences to explore integrated approaches that address these challenges. Featuring theoretical innovations, empirical evidence, and advanced modeling approaches, the conference seeks to foster discussions on practical applications and policy recommendations by: (a) reviewing lessons from ongoing efforts to decarbonize and circularize food system in China and globally; (b) evaluating trade-offs and synergies between economic, environmental, and social objectives in policy and program design; and (c) identifying research gaps and setting priorities for future interdisciplinary collaborations in the pursuit of sustainable food systems.
The conference welcomes research papers related, but not limited, to the following subjects:
- Agri-food system modelling
- Carbon market and GHG emissions in the food system
- Circular food supply chains and waste management
- Natural resource management and climate-smart agriculture
- Digitalization and rural revitalization
- Ecosystem services and ecological compensation
- Plant-based proteins, dietary changes and food consumption
- Green trade and global value chains
- Sustainable arable land and grassland management
- Water-energy-food nexus
Venue:
The conference will be held in the Southwest Center of Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development of CAAS in Chengdu, P. R. China. All participants are expected to join the conference in person. The conference language is English.
Travel and accommodation:
Participants need to arrange their own travel and accommodation. The organizing committee can provide assistance (including hotel booking and travel recommendations) for participants, if needed.
Conference registration fee:
Early registration: 700 RMB
Regular registration: 1,000 RMB
Students (incl. Ph.D. students and Postdocs): 500 RMB
Important dates:
Submission deadline: 15 April
Notification of acceptance: 20 May
Early registration date: 31 May
Regular registration date: 30 June
Conference dates: 19-20 July
Submission guidelines:
- Submit the full paper or an extended abstract to submission@surefood.org, submissions should be new and unpublished.
- Submissions will be evaluated by the conference academic committee, author(s) of the accepted papers, or at least one of them, are required to register and present their work at the conference.
- For any questions, please contact the organizing committee at info@surefood.org or qianchen@caas.cn.
Publication opportunities:
The selection of papers presented at the conference will be considered for publication in special issues of the following journals: Agricultural & Rural Studies(Excellent papers will be prioritized for publication in Volume 3, Issue 4 of A&R.), Cleaner Environmental Systems, Cleaner and Circular Bioeconomy, and China Journal of Agricultural Economics (forthcoming by Elsevier).
The conference is jointly organized by:
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wageningen University, Nanjing Agricultural University.