Conference Agenda

Session
Food Politics & EU Governance 02: What opportunities for EU-ropean Food Studies?
Time:
Tuesday, 02/Sept/2025:
11:30am - 1:00pm

Session Chair: Laura Gelhaus

Presentations

What Opportunities for EU-ropean Food Studies?

Chair(s): Laura Gelhaus (University of Warwick)

Presenter(s): Isabell Burmester (Université Sorbonne Nouvelle (Paris 3)), Adalgisa Martinelli (Université Libre de Bruxelles and Luiss University), Laura Gelhaus (University of Warwick), Maria Garcia (University of Bath)

Food is a crucial point of contention in EU-ropean politics. In 2022, Russia’s all-out war on Ukraine has emphasised the vulnerabilities of the global food system, with significant implications for EU-rope and beyond. The Common Agricultural Policy remains highly contested, the protection of foods and drinks produced in the EU complicates trade negotiations, the EU’s food safety standards affect foreign producers, and foods are increasingly used as a tool of EU-ropean cultural diplomacy. However, the study of foods and drinks in European Studies remains fragmented. This roundtable investigates the opportunities and challenges for a more cohesive and systematic approach to EU and European Food Studies and explores pathways for future collaboration.

We intend this roundtable to be informal and interactive, open to anyone interested in the study of Food and EU governance.