The Universal Exposition will soon take place in Milan, Italy, in 2015, with a thematic focus on “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”. On this occasion the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, in collaboration with the Congregation for Catholic Education of the Holy See and the International Federation of Catholic Universities is organizing an international Colloquium on the theme: Right to Food, Peace and Democracy. Research and Education in an ethical perspective, from the 17th to 19th September 2015. The Colloquium aims to bring to international debate issues of crucial importance such as: global food security, sustainable use of resources, land rights and access to food, promotion of human dignity and hunger reduction.

The Colloquium has launched a Call for Papers from January 25 to May 31, 2015 (DEADLINE EXTENDED). Systematic investigations, research analysis, field studies, trans-global initiatives, as well as presentations of past and present local and national experiences will have a platform for presentation. In September, at the Colloquium, the discussion over these submissions will call the attention of academics, policy makers, international bodies, food related multinational corporations and movements as well the general public during the semester of the World Exposition. This effort is meant to build a solid perspective over the theme of “Right to Food, Peace and Democracy”, providing a reference document for global policy makers.

The overall goal of the event is to aggregate ideas, values and experiences from the widest range of countries and disciplines to deepen the understanding of the issues at stake and to contribute to the international debate with a final statement that will be presented at the Universal Exposition and beyond.

The specific aims of the event are:

- To identify innovative ideas and best practices through a call for paper to be launched from January 25 to May 31, 2015 with the aim of collecting best practices of researches, developments and applications in the agro-food sector;

- To engage an open discussion and debate on the themes proposed;

- To present a consensus document, as a legacy of the event, in the Exposition site in the last day of the colloquium.

The colloquium will gather different international realities for an open and ample occasion of discussion on the themes related to agriculture, food, peace, and democracy.

The following issues will represent parallel break-out discussion groups:

1. Global food security: new solutions for a cultivated planet

2. Sustainable use of resources (water, land and environment)

3. Land rights and access to food: promoting human dignity for hunger reduction

4. Access to Food, Access to Information

The Scientific Committee will identify outstanding contributions and will prepare a position paper for the participants of the event including a set of discussion points.

Authors of accepted papers are expected to present their work at the appropriate seminar and contribute to the general discussion.

A selection of the presented papers will be considered for publication within a Special Issue of the Rivista Internazionale di Scienze Sociali, established in 1893 and published by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore.