See below for the CFP for the best annual food studies conference in North America, which will take place next May in Athens, GA. Note that SAFN will again be a co-sponsor and SAFN members may register at member rates. This is a great conference for graduate students, who will find a welcoming environment to present their work and will also be able to make connections with faculty and other grad students.

2022 AFHVS/ASFS
Cultivating Connections: Exploring Entry Points Into Sustainable Food Systems
Athens, Georgia
May 18 – 21, 2022

The University of Georgia's Sustainable Food Systems Initiative is pleased to host the 2022 joint annual meeting of the Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society (AFHVS) and the Association for the Study of Food and Society (ASFS).

The 2022 conference theme, "Cultivating Connections: Exploring Entry Points Into Sustainable Food Systems," is an invitation to envision a more sustainable and equitable future by critically engaging with the histories and legacies that have framed agricultural food landscapes over time. Cultivating connections means that we are active participants, called to dig in for the preparation of building fruitful relationships with one another to foster greater sustainability within the food system. The food system is an intricate web of social connections, with each node of the web shaping how food is regarded, how it's grown, how it will be distributed, who will buy it, and what its overall significance is within communities. These elements provide entry points for conversation, reconciliation, and action toward building stronger, more sustainable connections within the food system. Participants are invited to engage in conversations about changes to the current agri-food paradigm to better represent and advocate for a more just and equitable food system – from farm to fork – that strengthens community viability, food security, and the sovereignty of all people.

We welcome submission for the following categories:

  • Paper presentation: A standard 15-20 minute academic presentation
  • Lightning Talk: A 3-5 minute presentation
  • Poster: Share a poster that describes a research project or program
  • Exploration gallery: Interact with attendees at a table where you can share products or other materials. This is a shared space with poster presentations and NOT primarily about marketing goods or services for business purposes.
  • Roundtable: Host a conversation on a topic with a group of stakeholders or experts as panelists
  • Paper session: Organize a group of papers. Note that you will need the submission numbers of your presenters prior to your submission.
  • Working session: Use a conference room for an informal conversation on a project or issue.

Submitting authors will receive a six digit submission number after completing the form. Please store this number and refer to it in any correspondence related to your submission.

Accepted abstracts will be grouped in the following categories:

  • Race, Gender, and Equity
  • Food, Health, and Nutrition
  • Role of Higher Education
  • Community Development and Engagement
  • Farming and Production Systems
  • Agricultural Economics
  • Consumer Perceptions, Behavior, and Marketing

Please direct any questions about abstract submission to cultivatingconnections2022@gmail.com.

Abstract submission will begin on August 22, 2021

Early review deadline: November 5, 2021

Standard review deadline: January 5, 2022

For early submissions, authors will be notified of acceptance by early December 2021. For standard deadline submissions, authors will be notified of acceptance by early March 2022. All presenters must be registered for the conference by April 15, 2022 to be included in the program.

Virtual Track

We are anticipating offering a parallel virtual track during the conference (online presentations and online participation). This track will be limited in the number of presentations that it can accommodate and it may also be limited in the format of presentations (possibly only workshops and lightning talks). While we recognize that this is not the same as a fully hybrid conference, we believe that it will help us to move in the direction of greater sustainability and inclusion. Abstract submissions for the virtual component of the conference will be accepted beginning November 6 on this portal; the submission deadline is January 5. Further details about the virtual track will be made available later this fall.

Virtual Track abstract submissions will open up on November 6, 2021 and close January 5, 2022. Authors will be notified of acceptance by early March 2022.