Lessons from the past: archaeology, anthropology and the future of food, Oxford

The conference is organised by Dr Kelly Reed (The Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food) and Dr Philippa Ryan (The British Museum). Please send any enquiries to futureoffood@oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk Lessons from the past:

a

rchaeology

,

anthropology

and the

f

uture of

f

ood

O

ne

day

conference

23

rd

August 2018

Lectur

e Theatre, Oxford Martin School

, University of Oxford

34 Broad Street (corner of Holywell and Catte Streets), Oxford, OX1 3BD

Today’s challenge of feeding an ever increasing population requires a whole food systems approach

to agricultural and food security research, in order to deliver productive, resilient and sustainable

food and farming. The environmental challenges posed by

agriculture are huge,

contributing to

greenhouse gas emissions,

localised pollution,

and water,

forest, land and biodiversity loss.

Conversely, climate change, water scarcity, rising global temperatures, and extreme weather will

also have severe long

-

term

effects on agricultural production.

Archaeological

,

historical

,

and anthropological

research

are all

underdeveloped resource

s

in modern

agricultural sustainability

studies

,

but

are

tool

s

well

-

suited

to

investigating

food security and

agricultural developme

nt over time under different challenges.

The study of

subsistence systems

from the ancient past through

to

the last century can provide insight into future agricultural

resilience

by exploring

the role

, value

and cultivation of local food crops

in

parts of the world where

dramatic changes

are seen

. Local information about changing agrobiodiversity

and

long

-

term

regional crop histories can add essential value and context to debates concerning future agricultural

strategies

and interventions, especia

lly around new crop introductions or utilising ‘forgotten’ or

increasingly underused

cereals and pulses

.

The day

conference brings together leading researchers and practitioners to present and discuss the

most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well

as practical challenges encountered and

solutions adopted in the field of global food security.

The conference is organised by Dr Kelly Reed (

The Oxford Martin Programme

on

t

he Future o

f Food

)

and Dr Philippa Ryan (The British Museum).

Please send any enqu

iries to

futureoffood@oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk