Call for papers

• • Sustainability and Environmental Concerns:

-Sustainable agriculture practices are becoming more prominent, focusing on reducing environmental impact and conserving resources.
-Carbon-neutral and regenerative farming practices are gaining traction to combat climate change and restore soil health.

• • Plant-Based and Alternative Proteins:

-Growing consumer interest in plant-based and alternative protein sources, such as plant-based
meats, cultured meats, and insect-based products.
-Investment in cellular agriculture technologies to produce lab-grown meat and seafood.

• • Precision Agriculture:

-Increasing adoption of precision agriculture technologies, including drones, sensors, and IoT
devices, for efficient resource management and crop monitoring. The use of AI and machine
learning to optimize crop yields and reduce input costs.

• • Vertical Farming and Indoor Agriculture:

-Expansion of vertical farming and hydroponics to produce crops in controlled environments,
reducing water usage and enabling year-round cultivation.
-Integration of automation and AI for enhanced productivity

• • Blockchain and Supply Chain Transparency:

-Utilizing blockchain technology to ensure transparency and traceability in the food supply chain,
improving food safety and quality assurance.
-Enhanced food recall processes and fraud prevention.

• • Local and Hyper-Local Food Sourcing:

-A growing focus on local and hyper-local food production to reduce transportation emissions and
support small-scale farmers.
-The rise of urban farming and community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs.

• • Food Waste Reduction:

-Efforts to reduce food waste across the supply chain through better inventory management,
improved packaging, and consumer education.
-Innovative food waste recycling and upcycling solutions.

• • Nutrition and Functional Foods:

-Increasing demand for functional foods and personalized nutrition, driven by health-conscious
consumers.
-The development of foods with added health benefits and bioactive ingredients.

• • E-commerce and Direct-to-Consumer Sales:

-A surge in online food shopping and direct-to-consumer sales, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
-Digital platforms and apps for ordering groceries and meal kits
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• • Labor Shortages and Automation:

-Addressing labor shortages through automation and robotics in farming and food processing.
-Development of autonomous vehicles and machinery for agricultural tasks.

• • Food Safety and Quality Assurance:

-Advanced technologies, such as hyperspectral imaging and blockchain, to ensure the safety and quality of food products.
-Faster and more accurate testing methods for contaminants and pathogens.

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• • Government Regulations and Policies:

-Evolving food safety regulations, labelling requirements, and sustainability incentives that impact the agrifood industry.
-Support for organic farming and subsidies for sustainable practices.

• • Bioengineering as a tool for efficient, sustainable, and resilient agricultural practices:

This interdisciplinary field aims to address various challenges related to agriculture and food production, such as increasing yields, enhancing crop resistance to pests and diseases, improving nutritional content, and reducing the environmental impact of farming.

• • Application of IA in the agrifood sector:

IA has been already mentioned along this proposal. We can either integrate IA Maybe we can integrate it along the different technical sessions or create a different one, based on the acceptance received.