Selection of Articles on Food Law And Policy

In a world facing the intertwined challenges of food insecurity, climate change, and growing health disparities, the intersection of food law and policy with agricultural development has never been more critical. The pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Zero Hunger – demands a fundamental rethinking of how we produce, distribute, and consume food. It is within this crucial context that the 3^rd International Conference on Food Law and Policy, on 20 November 2024, convened hybrid by Faculty of Law, Universitas Airlangga in Surabaya, brought together a remarkable assembly of researchers, policymakers and advocates to explore the multifaceted landscape of food law and policy. It is an activity under the VLIR-UOS Short Initiatives Academic Project 2023-2025, collaboration between Vrije Universiteit Brussels and Universitas Airlangga on “Empowering Women Farmers to Actualise Rights to Seed for Sustainable and Resilient Food System in East-Java Indonesia”

            For decades, agricultural policy often prioritized maximizing production, with food law primarily focused on basic safety. However, a more holistic understanding has emerged, recognizing that sustainable agriculture, equitable access to nutritious food, and robust regulatory frameworks are inseparable. This conference, and the papers collected in this book, represent a vital contribution to this evolving understanding. The participants, representing diverse disciplines and geographies with over 100 attendees including 35 speakers from Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, Belgium, Netherland and Italy, engaged in rigorous discussions spanning a wide range of critical topics: from the intricacies of international trade agreements and their impact on local food systems, to the challenges of regulating novel food technologies and addressing food fraud. The discussions delved deep into the complexities of land tenure rights, the role of subsidies in shaping agricultural practices, and the urgent need for climate-resilient food systems.

            This book encapsulates the essence of those crucial discussions, providing not only an overview of the current state of the field, but also a strategic framework for future action. The included fifteen papers offer cutting-edge research on a diverse range of topics, extending beyond food and agricultural policy to encompass the intersection of law and sustainable development. Consequently, the book is structured into two chapters. Chapter One presents selected papers on Food and Agricultural Law and Policy, while Chapter Two features selected papers on Law and Sustainable Development.