Friday, March 20, 2009
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Surrey, B.C. Canada
Sustaining Food: Conference on Past and Present Food Systems
The 6th Annual Anthropology Conference on Culture, Community, and
Well-Being
"Daily, our eating turns nature into culture, transforming the body of the
world into our bodies and minds. Agriculture has done more to reshape the
natural world than anything else we humans do, both its landscapes and the
composition of its flora and fauna. . . . Eating puts us in touch with all
that we share with the other animals, and all that sets us apart. It
defines us."
?Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma (2006)
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.
Submitting a Proposal:
Please include the following information, along with an abstract and/or
paper:
a. title of the submission
b. topic area of the submission
c. presentation format
d. name(s) of the author(s)
e. department(s) and affiliation(s)
f. mailing address(es)
g. e-mail address(es)
h. phone number(s)
Deadline: Monday, January 5, 2009.
Email your abstract and/or paper to:
larissa.petrillo@kwantlen.ca
Please type Sustaining Food Conference
in the subject heading.
Kwantlen is located in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver, BC.
www.surrey.travel.bc.ca/
The conference is open to all audiences and free of charge.
Please register early by sending an email to anthconference@kwantlen.ca
