Call for papers/Topics

Topics of interest for submission include any topics related to:

Core Independent Disciplines

This domain focuses on the primary production of plants, animals, and resources necessary for human survival.

Crop Science & Agronomy: Plant genetics, breeding, crop physiology, and weed/pest management.
Animal Science: Livestock production, animal nutrition, breeding/genetics, and veterinary health.
Soil Science & Edaphology: Soil chemistry, soil physics, soil microbiology, and fertility management.
Agricultural Engineering: Farm machinery, automated harvesting, irrigation systems, and structures.
Horticulture: The science of cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants.

This domain takes over post-harvest, focusing on how raw agricultural materials are transformed, preserved, and consumed.

Food Chemistry & Biochemistry: Chemical composition of food, enzymatic reactions, and nutrient stability.
Food Microbiology & Safety: Beneficial fermentation, food spoilage organisms, and foodborne pathogen control.
Food Processing & Engineering: Thermal processing, freezing, dehydration, and innovative packaging technologies.
Sensory Science: The study of how human senses perceive taste, texture, aroma, and appearance.
Nutritional Sciences: Human metabolism, dietetics, public health nutrition, and functional foods.

This domain focuses on the broader natural world, studying ecosystems, earth systems, and human impacts on the planet.

Ecology & Conservation Biology: Biodiversity, ecosystem dynamics, and habitat restoration.
Environmental Chemistry & Toxicology: Pollutant behavior in nature and the impact of chemicals on organisms.
Hydrology & Water Resources: Watershed management, groundwater dynamics, and water quality.
Atmospheric Sciences & Climate: Greenhouse gas dynamics, air pollution, and climate modeling.
Waste Management: Solid waste treatment, recycling systems, and landfill science.

The most critical global challenges lie at the intersections of these three major fields.

Intersection of Agriculture and Environment

Regenerative Agriculture: Practices aimed at restoring soil health, biodiversity, and carbon capture.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Combining biological, cultural, and chemical tools to minimize environmental damage.
Precision Agriculture: Using GPS, drones, and IoT sensors to optimize water and fertilizer use, reducing chemical runoff.
Permaculture & Agroforestry: Designing agricultural systems that mimic natural ecosystems.

Intersection of Food, Agriculture, and Socio-environmental Policy

Food Loss & Waste Reduction: Technologies and logistics designed to minimize food waste from the farm to the consumer.
Agricultural Economics: Market dynamics, global trade policies, and subsidies affecting food distribution.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Quantifying the total environmental footprint (carbon, water, land) of a food product from "cradle to grave."
Urban and Vertical Agriculture: Growing food in controlled environments inside cities to reduce transportation emissions.

The technical driver connecting all three domains

Genetic Engineering & CRISPR: Developing crops that are drought-resistant, pest-resistant, or biofortified with nutrients.
Biofuels & Bioenergy: Converting agricultural waste, algae, or dedicated energy crops into ethanol, biodiesel, and biogas.
Bioremediation: Using specialized microorganisms or plants to clean up agricultural runoff (like pesticides and fertilizers) from soil and water.

The ultimate convergence of Food, Agriculture, and Environment

Carbon Sequestration: Managing agricultural soils and forestry to pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
Methane Mitigation: Altering livestock diets and manure management to reduce potent greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate-Smart Agriculture: Developing farming systems resilient to extreme weather, shifting growing seasons, and emerging pests.