Agriculture and Food Systems: The Role of AI and Digitalization
9–12 September 2026 | Cappadocia University, Türkiye
Call for Abstracts
Between the volcanic rock formations of Cappadocia and the shifting landscapes of food and farming, EurSafe 2026 invites you to explore the ethical dimensions of AI and digitalization in agriculture. As we stand at the intersection of urgent climate action and rapidly evolving technology, this conference asks: how can we harness digital innovation to ensure sustainable, just, and resilient food systems?
The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report highlights the urgency of transforming agricultural practices to mitigate climate change and enhance food security. In this context, AI-driven technologies offer potential solutions for optimizing resource use, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and increasing resilience to climate impacts. Additionally, the European Union’s AI Act, particularly its focus on high-risk AI applications in agriculture, underscores the need for ethical guidelines to govern the deployment of these technologies. These legal frameworks and ongoing public and political debate emphasize the importance of ensuring that AI, as part of a wider use of technologies in agriculture and food systems is aligned with societal values. As we stand at the intersection of technological advancement and ethical responsibility, this conference aims to explore how AI and digitalization can be harnessed to create sustainable and equitable food systems.
We invite scholars, researchers, professionals, postgraduate students, indigenous community leaders, and representatives to submit abstracts that align with the broad conference theme.
We encourage submissions that engage with the following main topics:
– Dystopia and Utopia in Agriculture and Food Systems: Examining the potential future scenarios – both positive and negative – that AI and digitalization could bring to agriculture and food production in the context of climate change.
– Improving the food chain for efficiency, safety and transparency and the role of technology including AI and digitalization
– Responsible regulating AI and data use in agriculture and food: the role of ethics & law
– AI and Digitalization in Livestock Farming and Animal Health
– Automation and the Future of Farm Labor: Investigating the social and ethical implications of AI and robotics in reducing the need for human labour in agriculture.
Next to the central conference themes, we also invite general contributions related to:
· Veterinary and animal ethics
· Teaching ethics
· Ethical issues of aquaculture
· Environmental ethics
· The impact of immigration, demographics changes, and social equity in agriculture and food systems
· Cultural perspectives and indigenous knowledge on agriculture and food
· Ethical food consumption
Participants are encouraged to select topics within their area of interest while ensuring relevance to the overarching theme of the conference. We also welcome submissions that address these subtopics or any related area within the larger EurSafe conceptual framework.
Submission Types
– 20-Minute Paper Presentations: We invite proposals for oral presentations that will last 20 minutes, followed by a 5-minute discussion period.
– Poster Presentations: Submissions for poster presentations are also welcome. Posters should clearly communicate research findings or ethical considerations related to the conference theme.
Submission Guidelines
Abstracts for blind peer review must not exceed 2,500 keystrokes including title, authors and addresses, and including spaces and punctuation. The title of your abstract can take up to 100 keystrokes, including spaces. Abstracts must be written and presented in English. Abstracts should be submitted online via the conference website.
Please indicate the preferred presentation type (paper or poster) in your submission.
– Abstract Submission Deadline: 01 December 2025
– Notification of Acceptance: 14 January 2026
– Deadline for submissions of extended abstracts: 16 March 2026
Publication Prospects
All accepted abstracts will be electronically published as “EurSafe 2026 Conference Abstracts Book” by De Gruyter Brill Academic Publishers and maintained on the conference website in Open Access.
Other Conference Events
Thematic Workshops: 4-8 thematic workshops will be organised on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
EurSafe General Assembly Meeting: The EurSafe General Assembly will meet during the conference, the schedule of which will be announced with the final programme.
Cappadocia Excursion: Half day excursion to main centres of attraction (subject to signing up in advance of the conference) in Cappadocia will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
Conference Website: For more information, please contact Dr. Sinan Akıllı at eursafe2026@kapadokya.edu.tr
Join us in Cappadocia for this engaging and thought-provoking conference as we explore the ethical dimensions of AI and digitalization in agriculture and food systems and foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration at the EurSafe 2026 Conference. We look forward to your contributions that will shape the discourse on the future of ethical agriculture.
