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  • IFSS 2025 Call for Abstracts

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    The Faculty of Management and Development Studies of the University of the Philippines Open University in collaboration with DOST NIR invite scholars, practitioners, educators, policymakers, artists, and changemakers to submit abstracts for the International Forum on Sustainability Science (IFSS) 2025. This landmark event seeks to center the pluralities of Asian perspectives and practices in futures thinking, with a focus on deepening planetary well-being and decolonizing dominant futures frameworks.

    This year’s theme, “Circularity, Renewability, and Regenerative Futures for Food Systems,” is a call to reimagine how we produce, distribute, consume, and govern food. It centers on systems that restore soil, water, ecosystems, and cultural heritage—where nothing is wasted and everything contributes to a continuous cycle of renewal. Drawing from indigenous knowledge, scientific research, digital technologies, community innovation, and youth-led initiatives, we aim to build inclusive, restorative, and future-ready food systems.

    IFSS 2025 aligns with national frameworks like the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the Philippine Action Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production (PAP4SCP), and global instruments such as the SDGs, UN Food Systems Summit Pathways, and COP commitments. By convening actors from across the spectrum, the symposium provides a venue to synergize policies, innovations, and social movements toward food systems that nourish both people and the planet.

    • FORUM OBJECTIVES

      The Forum aims to catalyze regenerative and circular food systems in the Philippines through inclusive dialogue, systems thinking, innovation exchange, and policy co-creation.

      Specific Objectives:

      1. To highlight innovations and practices that promote circular and regenerative agriculture, nutrition, and livelihoods.

      2. To strengthen the capacity and leadership of youth, women, Indigenous Peoples, and farmers in food systems transformation.

      3. To align national and local food systems efforts with global sustainability and climate goals.

      4. To facilitate cross-sector partnerships for sustainable production, consumption, and waste management.

      5. To develop a shared roadmap for a regenerative food future rooted in Filipino realities and wisdom.

    • FORUM TRACKS

      We welcome submissions aligned with the following tracks:

      1. Circular Agriculture and Regenerative Farming

      2. Renewable Energy in Agri-Food Systems

      3. Water Circularity and Climate-Resilient Irrigation

      4. Food Waste Reduction and Circular Food Business Models

      5. Indigenous Knowledge and Biocultural Diversity

      6. Sustainable Packaging and Postharvest Innovations

      7. Nutripreneurship and Eco-Inclusive Enterprises

      8. Digital Agriculture, Blockchain, and Data for Regeneration

      9. Policy Co-Creation for Circular and Regenerative Systems

      10. Food Sovereignty, Equity, and Justice

      11. Urban-Rural Food System Integration

      12. Food Systems Education and Futures Thinking

      13. Local Government Innovations in Sustainable Food Systems

      14. Gender and Youth Inclusion in Regenerative Economies

      15. Soil and Ecosystem Regeneration for Climate Adaptation

    • IMPORTANT DATES

      Abstract Submission Deadline: June 15, 2025
      Notification of Acceptance: Early Bird Registration
      10 January 2025 -  July 15, 2025
      Early Registration Opens: 
      Conference Dates: 17-18 September 2025

    • SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

      Rather than pre-defining sub-themes, IFSS 2025 encourages interested individuals to frame their abstracts by explicitly drawing connections across the three dimensions of sustainable development:

      • Biosphere (e.g., SDGs 13, 14, 15)

      • Society (e.g., SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 16)

      • Economy (e.g., SDGs 8, 9, 11, 12, 17)

      Each submission must demonstrate relevance to at least one SDG from each of the three dimensions and be guided by the overarching theme of “Circularity, Renewability, and Regenerative Futures for Food Systems.”

      Abstracts should be 250–300 words in length, include title, author/s name(s), affiliation(s), and email address. Submit a short bio (max 100 words) of the presenting author. Indicate your preferred presentation format: oral, poster, panel, or creative presentation.

      Abstracts must be submitted by 15 June 2025 via Indico Platform.

  • Abstract Submission for IFSS 2025

    You may submit an abstract for the IFSS 2025 conference by clicking on the button below. It will direct you to UPOU Indico where you will be creating and uploading your submission. Please note that you will be prompted to login when making a submission. Kindly login to your existing UPOU Indico account or create your account to be able to move forward with your submission.

  • Why Join IFSS 2025

    IFSS 2025 offers a platform to engage with one of the most pressing challenges of our time: transforming food systems to be circular, renewable, and regenerative. In the face of climate change, biodiversity loss, and persistent food insecurity, this forum convenes a diverse community of thinkers and doers—across disciplines, sectors, and generations—committed to reimagining how we grow, distribute, consume, and govern food.

  • ORGANIZERS AND PARTNERS

    UP Open University, co-organized by DOST NIR, in collaboration with Philippine Network for Satoyama Initiatives and Sustainability Studies, and in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Climate Change Commission, SEARCA, FAO, UNDP, DOST-FNRI, and a coalition of youth, farmer, academe, LGU, and development partners.