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Please see the following call for papers for a special issue crossing the fields of technological change, consumption and sustainability. 

Agrifood Security and Technological Change`          

Special Issue: Niki Hynes, Associate Professor of Marketing at Curtin Graduate School of Business.

Juliette Wilson, Lecturer in Marketing and Associate Dean, University of Strathclyde.

Increasing population concerns, global climate change and changing patterns of consumption in the BRICS and other countries requires significant complex and sustainable change in the way we produce, process, and market food and beverage products. Recent changes in consumer tastes have resulted in a significant increase in meat consumption, high protein diets and processed foods, together with increased demand for convenience foods and increasing awareness of food safety issues. Much research suggests that consumers intend to purchase healthy, environmentally friendly, sustainably produced foods yet confusion over labeling and lack of consumer knowledge can hinder this.

Both retailers and consumers impact the food supply chain with the demand for reduced prices, longer shelf life, changes in packaging and all-year round demand. Concurrent to the changes in the retail/ consumer space, advances in food production (including GM), food storage and distribution as well as increasing knowledge of environmental impacts are also impacting food supply and consumption. A "counter revolution" of slow foods, gourmet food and wine festivals has emerged, showcasing the best local and international products and providing an alternative to mass produced or processed foods.

The original Gaia theory of world self-regulation has come a long way since it was first proposed in the 1970s.  Increasing knowledge on climate change has surpassed the initial idea put forward. Can the idea that the world is a self-regulating system help inform our behavior with regard to food security issues? Are technological advances in food production, including biotechnology and GM foods or in the supply chain in terms of storage, refrigeration or transport as well as changes in consumer needs compatible with, or contributing to a self-regulating system?

This special edition focuses on the technological changes in agri-food security and calls for papers addressing the following:  

a.    What technological advances can help production and distribution as well as storage of agri-food products.

b.    Is GM production consistent with increased food demands and how can this fit into a self-regulating system?

c.     What technologies might be used to encourage informed consumerism or social change to address this issue?

d.    Does Gaia theory have any application in helping to frame agri-food production, supply or consumption? Are there more appropriate theories to help model sustainable agrifood consumption?

e.    What processes or models can be used to map the changes in technology in this field ?

Papers should be submitted via the journal's online submission system: http://ees.elsevier.com/tfs indicating submission to the special issue "Region Innovation System". Please also refer to TFSC's "Guide for Authors" for style and format guidelines. Please direct any questions about the Special Issue If you have any questions about this call for papers, please contact Niki Hynes at niki.hynes@curtin.edu.au or Juliette Wilson at Juliette.wilson@strath.ac.uk

We welcome expressions of interest prior to the deadline which is:

Important Dates

·       Submission of manuscripts (via EES): 31^st January 2015