LAW AND FOOD SECURITY in times of uncertainity and change
English version below
Lunedì 11 e martedì 12 maggio il Dipartimento di Giurisprudenza, Studî Politici e Internazionali dell’Ateneo (via Università, 12) ospiterà la FLAN - Food Law Academics Network Annual Conference 2026, dedicata al tema Law and Food Security in Times of Uncertainty and Change.
L’iniziativa, promossa da Food Law Academics Network e dal Dipartimento di Giurisprudenza, Studî Politici e Internazionali dell’Università di Parma, rappresenta un’importante occasione di confronto internazionale sul rapporto tra diritto, sistemi agroalimentari e sicurezza alimentare, con particolare attenzione alle sfide poste dai cambiamenti climatici, dalle crisi geopolitiche e dall’innovazione tecnologica.
La conferenza riunirà più di 60 studiose e studiosi selezionati a seguito di una partecipata Call for Proposals e provenienti da università e centri di ricerca di tutto il mondo. Insieme a esperte/i e professioniste/i del settore, relatori e relatrici affronteranno, in ottica interdisciplinare, questioni chiave come sostenibilità e sicurezza alimentare, innovazione tecnologica e regolazione, governance globale del cibo, garanzia del diritto al cibo, proprietà intellettuale e sistemi agricoli.
Il programma è articolato in sessioni tematiche parallele, momenti di networking e keynote lectures affidate a Ferdinando Albisinni, che aprirà i lavori alle 9.15 con una riflessione sul diritto agroalimentare in dimensione globale, a Kris DeAngelo, che affronterà il tema del futuro dell’innovazione alimentare e a Michael Windfuhr, che discuterà del ruolo del “diritto al cibo” nella trasformazione sostenibile dei sistemi agroalimentari.
L’iniziativa, che si svolge nell’ambito del progetto “Food for Future”, Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2023-2027, si inserisce nel più ampio impegno dell’Università di Parma verso la ricerca sui sistemi alimentari e sulla sostenibilità, confermando il ruolo dell’Ateneo e del Dipartimento quale punto di riferimento nel dibattito internazionale su diritto e alimenti.
Info: FLANConference2026@unipr.it
Lunedì 11 maggio
09:15 | 09:45 Keynote Speech · Prof. Ferdinando Albisinni · Public and Private Agri-Food Law in the Global and Transnational Dimension: New Duties and New Rights
10:15 | 12:20 Parallel Sessions
I.
Food Sustainability and Food Security: From Theory to Action I
II.
Food Sustainability and Food Security: From Theory to Action II
III.
Agriculture and Food Security
IV.
Food Security in a Global Context
13:45 | 14:15 Keynote Speech · Prof. Kris DeAngelo · The Future of Food Innovation, Technology, and the Next Agricultural Revolution
14:40 | 17:00 Parallel Sessions
I.
Innovation, Agriculture and Ecosystems
II.
Innovation, Risk and Information
III.
Agriculture, Food and IP
Martedì 12 maggio
09:00 | 09:30 Keynote Speech · Mr. Michael Windfuhr · Sustainable Transformation of Food and Agricultural Systems – The Role Human Rights Standards (Right to Food) Can Play
09:55 | 12:30 Parallel Sessions
I.
History, Policy and Religion
II.
The International Dimension of Food
III.
Human Rights and Food
In allegato il Programma completo della Conferenza
Come raggiungerci:
La Conferenza si terrà nel centro città, presso l’edificio principale dell’Università (Via Università 12), che dista solo 17 minuti a piedi dalla stazione ferroviaria.
Sono disponibili diverse soluzioni di alloggio nelle vicinanze dell’Università. Poiché nel mese di maggio si svolgeranno a Parma diversi importanti eventi culturali, consigliamo vivamente di prenotare l’hotel in anticipo.
Come raggiungere Parma?
I principali aeroporti si trovano a Bologna e Milano.
Dall’Aeroporto di Bologna alla Stazione Ferroviaria è possibile usufruire del servizio navetta Marconi Express oppure di autobus o taxi.
Da Milano Malpensa è disponibile un treno navetta (Malpensa Express) per Milano Centrale, da dove partono le connessioni con treni regionali per Parma; è possibile altresì scegliere un treno ad alta velocità (solo pochi treni fermano a Parma).
Comitato scientifico: Mirta Alessandrini, Federica Boldrini, Tommaso Bonamini, Elena Carpanelli, Maria Chiara Errigo, Giulia Formici, Marco Inglese, Francesco Montanari, Valeria Paganizza, Silvia Rolandi, Lucia Scaffardi, Hanna Schebesta
Comitato organizzativo: Giulia Formici, Valeria Paganizza
English version
On Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 May, the Department of Law, Political and International Studies of the University of Parma (Via Università 12) will host the FLAN – Food Law Academics Network Annual Conference 2026, dedicated to the theme “Law and Food Security in Times of Uncertainty and Change.”
Promoted by the Food Law Academics Network and the Department of Law, Political and International Studies of the University of Parma, the initiative represents an important opportunity for international dialogue on the relationship between law, agri‑food systems, and food security, with particular attention to the challenges posed by climate change, geopolitical crises, and technological innovation.
The conference will bring together more than 60 scholars, selected through a well‑attended Call for Proposals, from universities and research centres around the world. Alongside experts and professionals in the field, speakers will address key issues from an interdisciplinary perspective, including sustainability and food security, technological innovation and regulation, global food governance, the protection of the right to food, intellectual property, and agricultural systems.
The programme includes parallel thematic sessions, networking opportunities, and keynote lectures delivered by Ferdinando Albisinni, who will open the conference at 9:15 a.m. with a reflection on agri‑food law in a global perspective; Kris DeAngelo, who will discuss the future of food innovation; and Michael Windfuhr, who will address the role of the “right to food” in the sustainable transformation of agri‑food systems.
The conference is held within the framework of the “Food for Future” project, a Department of Excellence 2023–2027, and forms part of the broader commitment of the University of Parma to research on food systems and sustainability, confirming the role of the University and the Department as points of reference in the international debate on food and law.
Info: FLANConference2026@unipr.it
Monday 11 May
09:15 | 09:45 Keynote Speech · Prof. Ferdinando Albisinni · Public and Private Agri-Food Law in the Global and Transnational Dimension: New Duties and New Rights
10:15 | 12:20 Parallel Sessions
I.
Food Sustainability and Food Security: From Theory to Action I
II.
Food Sustainability and Food Security: From Theory to Action II
III.
Agriculture and Food Security
IV.
Food Security in a Global Context
13:45 | 14:15 Keynote Speech · Prof. Kris DeAngelo · The Future of Food Innovation, Technology, and the Next Agricultural Revolution
14:40 | 17:00 Parallel Sessions
I.
Innovation, Agriculture and Ecosystems
II.
Innovation, Risk and Information
III.
Agriculture, Food and IP
Tuesday 12 May
09:00 | 09:30 Keynote Speech · Mr. Michael Windfuhr · Sustainable Transformation of Food and Agricultural Systems – The Role Human Rights Standards (Right to Food) Can Play
09:55 | 12:30 Parallel Sessions
I.
History, Policy and Religion
II.
The International Dimension of Food
III.
Human Rights and Food
The Conference Programme is attached.
How to reach us
The conference will take place in the city centre, at the main building of the University (Via Università 12), which is approximately 17 minutes’ walk from the railway station.
Several accommodation options are available near the University. As many important cultural events will take place in Parma in May, early hotel booking is strongly recommended.
How to get to Parma
The main airports are located in Bologna and Milan.
From Bologna Airport, the railway station can be reached via the Marconi Express shuttle, or by bus or taxi.
From Milan Malpensa Airport, the Malpensa Express train connects to Milan Central Station, from where regional trains to Parma are available; alternatively, high‑speed trains may be taken (only a limited number stop in Parma).
Scientific committee
Mirta Alessandrini, Federica Boldrini, Tommaso Bonamini, Elena Carpanelli, Maria Chiara Errigo, Giulia Formici, Marco Inglese, Francesco Montanari, Valeria Paganizza, Silvia Rolandi, Lucia Scaffardi, Hanna Schebesta
Organising committee
Giulia Formici, Valeria Paganizza