If you’re considering embarking on a PhD next year, there’s a great research project available for a student who wants to be part of an intergenerational shift towards sustainable food production.

The school is called Food Transitions 2050 and draws on the expertise of Lincoln University, the University of Canterbury, AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, and Plant & Food Research. Fifteen PhD research projects lie at the heart of the initiative.

This is a great opportunity to make a difference to future food sustainability and connect with industry at the same time.

About the project
Alternative land-uses and diverse landscapes may help address some of the environmental, social and economic pressures affecting the primary sector in New Zealand. Alongside these existing pressures, climate change is creating an uncertain future for how we use our land. This study will assess how future land use and management practices will fare in the face of climate change, using an economic approach to support decision-making under uncertainty (portfolio analysis).

The project is part of a new joint postgraduate school that draws on the expertise of scientists here at Lincoln, as well as the University of Canterbury, AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, and Plant & Food Research. The primary supervisor is Associate Professor Anita Wreford, together with Dr. Edmar Teixeira at Plant and Food Research.

The ideal candidate will be highly motivated and interested in making a difference to the future of land-use in New Zealand. They will ideally have a background in either economics or finance, with an interest or experience in interdisciplinary research for the assessment of agroecosystem responses to climate. Candidates from other backgrounds with strong analytical skills will also be considered.

Fourteen other current PhD projects will be carried out in conjunction with the initiative.

Applying for a PhD project

If you would like to apply for the project, please email project supervisor Associate Professor Anita Wreford with a short CV and statement that includes:

Your reasons for pursuing this research project
Information about your academic achievements
Evidence of your previous experience in the field
Details on your career aspirations

Applications close on 12 December 2020 and you will need to be ready to start your research in March 2021.

If you are successful, you will receive an award of $28,000 and your course fees will also be covered.

Organisers of Food Futures in the Anthropocene hope that the Conference will be proceeding at the University of Tasmania, Launceston, from 8-10 November 2020. 

The Call for Papers remains open and the new deadline for Abstract submission is now extended from May 1 to July 15.

Organisers encourage abstract submissions and assure full understand if authors subsequently need to cancel due to further lockdowns, lack of funding, ongoing uncertainty or any other reason.

For regular updates, please visit the conference website.

G’day and we hope that everyone has been staying safe during these challenging and dynamic times.

Three conferences have previously been shared on our website and we have updates on some of them.

Eurosoil 2020 (Geneva, Switzerland, August 2020) – To be advised if proceeding

IRSA 2020 Congress (Carins, Australia, July 2020) – Postponed to July 2021 in the same location

Food Futures in the Anthropocene: Place-Based, Just, Convivial (Tasmania, Australia, November 2020) – Still proceeding but check for updates via their event page

This post will be pinned to the top of the blog roll and will be updated when new information is received.

Stay safe!

Food Futures in the Anthropocene: Place-Based, Just, Convivial

8-10 November 2020

University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia

CALL FOR PANELS, PAPERS AND WORKSHOPS

Abstract submission deadline: 31 April 2020

Confirmed keynote speakers include:

• Joshna Maharaj, Toronto (Chef, TEDx Speaker & Author of Take Back the Tray)
• Prof. Sharon Friel, ANU, Canberra (Editor of Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems)
• Dr. S. Margot Finn, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Author of Discriminating Taste)
• Dr. Marvin Montefrio, Yale-NUS College, Singapore (Author of ‘Cosmopolitan translations of food and the case of alternative eating in the Philippines’)

Emerging discourses of the Anthropocene and its critics constitute attempts to grasp a new understanding of reality: the deep and reciprocal enmeshment of daily human practices with Earth’s vital life-support systems. For scholars of food studies and systems, the planetary impacts of high-input monocultures, land clearing, food miles, labour exploitation, retail monopolies, unethical advertising, obesogenic environments and food waste are only some of the issues to be overcome to resolve the profound economic, ecological, social and cultural crises in the twenty-first century and realise a flourishing co-existence for ourselves and the species with whom we live and eat. Employing inter- and transdisciplinary methodologies and building on ‘circular’, ‘just’, ‘slow’, ‘local’, ‘convivial’, ‘healthy’ and ‘sustainable’ food concepts, the emerging discipline of food system studies is uniquely positioned to answer questions about the nature and meanings of such enmeshments as well as offering imaginative yet feasible solutions. How do we make sense of the food futures to come? What new ways of eating well and convivially are there? How can lessons from the past help us navigate increasingly uncertain food futures? What food governance arrangements—politics, policies, regulations—will overcome unconscionable inequalities and deliver food justice? How is and should food be represented in the media? These are just a few of the questions this conference will grapple with.

Situated in Northern Tasmania’s iconic, Kanamaluka/Tamar Valley and the historic City of Launceston, Food Futures in the Anthropocene invites contributions that critically reflect on the nature of food systems that are socially, economically, politically, culturally and technically attuned to place, foster food security and justice, and serve to unite rather than divide communities through convivial food experiences.

We are especially interested in papers that address the following themes:

• Histories of food and place
• Food media/mediating food
• Policy, politics and political economy of food
• Food regulation and governance
• Conventional and alternative food cultures
• Healthy and sustainable food systems
• Food security, justice and sovereignty
• Food literacy and education
• Indigenous food systems
• Convivial food systems

Postgraduate students are strongly encouraged to participate.

Submit your abstract for papers, panels, workshops and other presentations via the conference website by 31 April 2020.

Notification of acceptance is expected by early June 2020.

All enquiries can be directed via email to: FoodFuturesAnthropocene@utas.edu.au

The University of Melbourne is advertising two part-time research positions – a Research Fellow (Food Systems) and a Research Assistant (Food Systems) to work on the research project ‘Building the climate resilience of Melbourne’s city region food system’.

Applications for both positions close at 11.55 pm on 2 December 2019 (AUS Eastern Daylight time).

For more information contact Dr Rachel Carey.