Academic Symposium 2026 Call for Extended Abstracts and Papers Scholars are invited to submit science-based research that advances resilient food and bioeconomy systems as our industry navigates profound environmental, geopolitical, technological, and societal transformations that are fundamentally reshaping how we produce, distribute, and consume food globally. Authors of accepted papers and posters will present during the academic Symposium of the IFAMA 2026 World Conference in Cork, Ireland on 15–16 June, 2026. We welcome submissions that provide sound management guidance for food and agribusiness stakeholders on these contemporary challenges:
Download the 2026 Call for Papers |
Hot Topics
Corporate and supply chain resilience Digitalization Human capital and organizational development Financial strategy and economic risk management | Climate change and environmental sustainabilityFood and agribusiness managers must balance long-term economic and environmental sustainability while managing immediate climate shocks. Challenges include designing sustainable business models, engaging stakeholders in eco-friendly innovation, and managing climate risks and compliance, among others. Consumer health and corporate responsibility in food systems Social issues in farming and due diligence |
Authors will be asked to identify 1–2 hot topics when uploading their proposals or papers into the manuscript submission portal. |
Research Themes
Accepted papers and posters provide management solutions to the hot topics based on sound inductive, abductive, or deductive research approaches using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods and contribute to one or two* of the following themes:
Theme 1: Internal organization & HRM Theme 2: Organizational behavior, leadership & change management Theme 3: Supply chain (network) management & organization | Theme 4: Entrepreneurship & innovation management Theme 5: Strategic management, economics & control Theme 6: Marketing management & consumer behavior |
Research opportunities include frameworks for climate adaptation, sustainability implementation, stakeholder coordination, and performance measurement systems balancing environmental stewardship with operational efficiency. Comparative analyses across diverse agricultural contexts and regulatory environments offer valuable insights for strategic decision-making. Authors will be asked to identify 1-2 themes when uploading their proposals or papers into the manuscript submission portal |
Broader Themes
Format
Extended abstracts of 5–7 pages must be written in English and structured as follows:
Full papers and teaching cases of up to 9,000 words – to report completed research.
Poster papers of up to 2,000 words – to propose a research idea, seek research collaboration, present a literature review, describe a research design, or report work-in-progress.
Submission Timeline
07 October Submissions accepted
22 November Deadline for Early Decision: extended abstracts, full papers, and teaching cases
13 January, 2026 Deadline for extended abstracts, full papers, and teaching cases
All submissions will undergo a double-blind peer review. Feedback is sent to authors between November and March, 2026.
Kindly direct all questions and inquiries about the Symposium to Symposium Chairs: academic@ifama.org,
Please upload extended abstracts, papers, and teaching cases through the Submittable Portal.
Practitioner Discussion Sessions
Practitioners who would like to host and facilitate a discussion around a topical issue during the conference are invited to submit an abstract of approximately 500 words no later than 31 January, 2026. Include:
The workshops follow a multistakeholder approach by bringing together practitioners, scientists and other interested stakeholders to discuss specific practical issues as a starting point for the development of new research ideas, practical management solutions and policies.
If your abstract is accepted you will be asked to submit a PowerPoint or Poster presentation before 30 April, 2026.
Please send abstracts for practitioners to Symposium Chairs Verena Otter and Tracy Bradfield, academic@ifama.org.
Best Paper Competition The aim of the Best Paper Competition is to attract and recognize research that distinctively rises above the normal criteria of selected Symposium presentations and offers authors a double-blind peer-review process and opportunity to be published in IFAMA’s journal, in the IFAMR 2026 Conference Edition. Authors are invited to submit their best scientific research for consideration in the Best Paper Award competition. To participate, please submit a full paper by 13 January, 2026. Best Paper Chair: Ram Acharya For questions about the Best Paper Competition, please email: acharyar@nmsu.edu. Learn more… |
Case Conference & Teaching Cases The International Food and Agribusiness Management Association is committed to developing and showcasing best practice in case study writing, teaching, and learning to promote problem-solving and knowledge transfer skills in the next generation of agri-food management talent. The Case Conference track of IFAMA’s academic Symposium is directed at a broad audience of professionals who are interested in developing effective food and agribusiness related cases and using them as learning tools, as well as for those interested in the specific case topics discussed. The Teaching Case Workshop also includes “featured cases” that are structured to provide constructive feedback to the case writers on their cases and discussion leadership skills. By modeling the case discussion process, we hope to encourage others to write cases or use cases (and the case discussion method) in their classes. IFAMA will showcase the best teaching case studies and recognize the Best Teaching Case with an award. Case Conference Co-Chairs: Bernardo Piazzardi, Executive Director at MBA in Agribusiness Universidad Austral, Argentina For questions about the Case Conference, please email: BPiazzardi@austral.edu.ar. Learn more…Special Issue and Publication Authors are invited to submit their best research and case studies for inclusion in the 2026 Conference Special Issue, published in IFAMA’s Journal, the International Food and Agribusiness Review (IFAMR). The 2026 Scientific Review Committee will identify full papers that meet the criteria for inclusion in the Special Issue and those papers will be nominated as a finalist for the Best Paper Competition. Papers nominated for Best Paper are sent to the BPA Chair for a comprehensive and fast-track double-blind peer review. For more information, contact Ram Acharya, acharyar@nmsu.edu. Symposium Chairs Verena Otter Please direct all questions and inquiries about the Symposium to the Symposium Chairs: academic@ifama.org. | Scientific Committee TBA
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