Sustaining Food: Conference on Past and Present Food Systems

Vancouver, BC, Canada

As studies of food shift from nutrition to economics, we begin to see the degree to which the interconnections between food and socioeconomic class have been evident historically, just as they are in our present global world. This conference aims to explore how food plays an essential role in the development of civilization and culture. Current concerns over soil depletion, water conservation, biotechnology, intellectual property rights, socially just food production, food safety, and food security rest on our understanding of the long-term development of food, and its impact on specific cultures.

Anthropology, archaeology and other interdisciplinary methods substantially contribute to our current understandings of food and culture. Cross-culturally, the examination of different historical and cultural standpoints shows us various social strategies to adapt to food stress. Additionally, at present, studying the rise of green consumers, agro-ecology or sustainable farming, cultural heritage conservation, and efforts to protect biodiversity convey significant information about social change. To what degree might current systems succeed in being economically viable, socially responsible, and ecologically sound? And, how does the ideology and structure of society relate to these practices? Join us in better understanding the relationship between people and food in ways that can truly sustain us.

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