The European Society of Rural Sociology invites PhD students to the 2014 Summer School on the 7th to 12th of September. The 2014 ESRS PhD Summerschool will take place near Avignon, France. In order to apply PhD students have to submit an abstract by the 31st of May. Please see attached file for further details.
Kiah Smith has published a book on Ethical Trade, Gender and Sustainable Livelihoods. Through an in-depth case study of smallholder subsistence and French bean farming in Kenya, the book grounds the analysis of livelihoods, gender and ethical trade in women smallholders’ perspectives, links the macro level of markets with the micro level of livelihoods, and engenders relations of power, structure and agency in food networks. Read more on the attached presentation, or at the publishers website.
Building a New Paradigm – Building a New Paradigm, a new book edited by Terry Marsden and Adrian Morley is now published by Routledge. In response to the challenges of a growing population and food security, there is an urgent need to construct a new agri-food sustainability paradigm. This book brings together an integrated range of key social science insights exploring the contributions and interventions necessary to build this framework. Read more about the book in the attached presentation, or visit the publishers website
2014 has been designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Family Farming. It is estimated that there are over 500 million small-holder/family farms worldwide and that these farms provide food for up to 2 billion people (the majority in the developing world). Some 85% of smallholder farms operate on no more than about 4 acres (1.6 hectares) of land. Yet, these small-scale operations occupy about 60% of the world’s arable land. With such a significant presence it is obvious that small-scale, family, farming is very important not only to food provision, but also to ensuring biodiversity and the protection of natural resources. What is the future of the family farm?
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The Chair of “Food Studies: Food, Culture and Health” at Taylor’s Toulouse University Centre invites submissions of papers and posters relevant to the theme “Towards an International Network for Studying Food Habits”. The Research Seminar will be helt at Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia at 20th and 21 May 2014. Abstract deadline March 25, 2014. For further details please read attached PDF.
The Programme Committe for the 5th International Conference of the Asian Rural Sociological Assocation decided to expand the deadlines of abstracts and full papers. New deadline for Abstracts: February 15, 2014. New deadline for Full Papers: March 31, 2014. For further details please see the attached Revised ARSA 2nd Circular.
Bentham Science Publishers has published a new E-book titled “Rural Lifestyles, Community Well-Being and Social Change: Lessons from Country Australia for Global Citizens” edited by Angela T. Ragusa. This edited e-book is a collection of articles that explores ‘rural realities’ of country life in Australia for global audiences interested in rurality, health and well-being. Read further on the publishers website.
Steven A. Wolf and Alessandro Bonanno have edited a new book about the Neoliberal Regime in the Agri-Food Sector. For the last three decades, the Neoliberal regime, emphasising economic growth through deregulation, market integration, expansion of the private sector, and contraction of the welfare state has shaped production and consumption processes in agriculture and food. The book surveys and synthesizes a range of sociological frames designed to grapple with the concepts of regimes, systemic crisis and transitions. Contributions include historical analysis, comparative analysis and case studies of food and agriculture from around the globe. These highlight particular aspects of crisis and responses, including the potential for continued resilience, a neo-productivist return, as well as the emergence and scaling up of alternative models. Read more at the publishers website
Catherine Phillips at the University of Wollongong, Australia, has written a book on seed saving. Saving More Than Seeds advances understandings of seed-people relations, with particular focus on seed saving. The practice of reusing and exchanging seeds provides foundation for food production and allows humans and seed to adapt together in dynamic socionatural conditions. Read more at the publishers website
Newcastle University’s reputation as a driving force for research into rural economies and societies has been recognised with the award of a Queen’s Anniversary Prize. Read more