FLAN ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2026
LAW AND
FOOD
SECURITY
IN TIMES OF
UNCERTAINTY
AND CHANGE
Brief Presentation
The 2026 annual conference of the Food Law Academics Network (FLAN), hosted by the University of Parma, addresses the theme “Law and Food Security in Times of Uncertainty and Change”, offering a reflection on the role of law in the governance of global food systems. In a context marked by geopolitical crises, climate change, technological innovation, and growing inequalities, food emerges as a central element of human dignity and social and economic stability. The conference will examine the relationship between sustainability, innovation, and the protection of rights, with particular attention to the right to food, food security, intellectual property, and equity in access to resources. The initiative is conceived as an international space for interdisciplinary dialogue on the future of resilient and sustainable food systems.
Conference Scope
The conference is situated within the field of national, European, and international food law, adopting an interdisciplinary approach aimed at examining the transformations of contemporary food systems. The initiative explores the relationship between law, food security, sustainability, technological innovation, and the protection of fundamental rights, analyzing the challenges posed by climate change, geopolitical crises, and global inequalities. Particular attention is devoted to the regulatory aspects of food production and distribution, the right to food, resource governance, intellectual property, and the socio-economic impacts of innovation. The conference represents an international forum for scientific discussion among scholars, researchers, and professionals interested in the evolution of policies and regulations concerning food law and food security.
Scope of the Presented Study
The study is situated within the field of sustainable food systems governance, with particular reference to the intersection between artificial intelligence, law, European policies, and digital transformation. The research analyzes the role of AI as a driver for the evolution of agri-food governance models, examining the implications related to disruptive innovation, private autonomy, and the territorial dimension within the framework of the new European Food Model. The investigation adopts an interdisciplinary approach integrating food law, policy analysis, digital governance, and sustainability, with specific attention to participatory processes and decision-making dynamics in agricultural systems. The study also explores the potential of artificial intelligence as a cognitive infrastructure capable of supporting inclusive, adaptive, and resilient governance models, strengthening stakeholder engagement and the management of uncertainty in contemporary agri-food systems.
Organizzatore
University of Parma, Department of Law, Political and International Studies
DATE
May 11–12, 2026Conference Presentation Title Artificial Intelligence. Opportunity for New Governance Models in Sustainable Food Systems?
Study Objective
The study aims to analyze the role of artificial intelligence as a driver for the evolution of governance models in sustainable food systems, within the framework of European policies and the new European Food Model. The primary objective is to understand whether, how, and in what forms AI may influence governance structures, considering the three emerging strategic dimensions — private autonomy, disruptive innovation, and territorial dimension — and assessing their impact across different agricultural models, with a specific focus on the Italian context. At the same time, the study seeks to explore the potential of AI in strengthening participatory governance models, in line with knowledge democracy approaches and new forms of stakeholder engagement.
Results Achieved
The paper proposes a conceptual governance model integrating artificial intelligence, public policies, and democratic participation, outlining an “extended participatory” approach capable of combining scientific expertise with the inclusion of territorial stakeholders. The main contribution consists in redefining the role of AI in food systems not merely as an enabling technology for traceability or certification, but as a cognitive infrastructure for building more open, adaptive, and resilient decision-making processes. The framework highlights how AI can support uncertainty management in agri-food systems, improve the representativeness of decision-making processes, and contribute to the definition of new guidelines for European and local agricultural policies, introducing an innovative perspective connecting governance, sustainability, and digital transformation.
Bibliographic Citation
My participation in the conference aimed to deepen interdisciplinary competencies in food law, food security, sustainability, and innovative governance, fostering international scientific dialogue and updating knowledge on European policies.