Call for Abstracts
Our theme for the 10th anniversary of the Canadian Association of Food Law and Policy is generations. We encourage participants from a diversity of experiences, backgrounds and relations to law and policy to engage with intergenerational thinking and practice as a way to understand and critically reflect on the past, present and future of our work and our professional and scholarly communities.
This year’s conference (November 12-14, 2026) will return to Kjipuktuk/Halifax and the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University–the site of our first conference more than a decade ago. We welcome abstract submissions of no more than 300 words by May 20, 2026 at www.foodlaw.ca for presentations, panels, workshops or other innovative formats that engage with intergenerational thinking and practice by addressing questions such as:
Over the past decade, there have been significant changes to the regulatory and legal landscape of food law in Canada and a tremendous growth in food law practice, scholarship, teaching and thinking. How have these developments changed (or not changed) the practice and study of food law? Are we in a new generation of food law–and if so, what defines it?
More broadly, are our food systems in a moment of generational transition? If so, how, and is this a moment of opportunity, anxiety, or both? Do global events of the past few years mark the beginning of a generational rupture or inflection point and what are the implications for food systems governance?
What tools and perspectives do intergenerational thinking and practice bring to Canadian food law and policy? For example, how do intergenerational principles (e.g. seven generations, intergenerational resilience and justice) shift our approach to building better food systems?
How have past generations of scholarship, practice and policy shaped food law in Canada today? What have they contributed or missed out?
How are the dynamics of generational succession affecting legal practice and food policy? What are key legal and policy issues of labour, succession in land and wealth, decolonization, and regulatory responsibilities (e.g. labelling, food safety)?
What challenges, capacities and skills are unique or important for the coming generation of legal practitioners engaging with food?
How can we best support the next generation of food law and policy practice and scholarship? What roles do or should law schools, regulatory bodies, civil society organizations, and government play?
Submissions are welcome and encouraged from scholars, practitioners, policymakers, students, community advocates and food-system stakeholders.