A Call for Papers: “The Implications of TTIP and TPP for GM/non-GM Coexistence”

·         Selected Papers will be presented in a day-long special session of the biannual GMCC-15, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Nov. 17-20, 2015

·         Eight to ten of the Selected Papers will appear in a special 2016 edition of the Journal of and Food Industrial Organization (JAFIO).  

·         Papers will be selected under blind review. Submissions from all countries are encouraged.

·         USDA will reimburse ten U.S.-based authors for travel and conference expenses, up to $3000.

A Special Session Coordinating Committee is seeking abstracts for papers focusing on the interplay between trade agreements and coexistence of genetically modified and conventional crops and food. These papers will be a part of a special session at the GMCC-15.

Bi-annually, the organizing committee of GMCC hosts the International Conference on Coexistence between Genetically Modified (GM) and non-GM based Agricultural Supply Chains (http://www.wageningenur.nl/en/activity/Congress-GMCC15.htm). The GMCC is aimed at gathering multidisciplinary academic and industry experts, regulators, policy makers and other key stakeholders from around the world to discuss coexistence. The GMCC-15 will be in Amsterdam, November 17-20, 2015. With support from a USDA-AFRI Conference Grant, the coordinating committee will host a special session at the GMCC-15 on the implications of the trade agreements, especially the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement (TTIP) and Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, for coexistence of genetically-modified (GM) and non-GM food and agricultural products.

A principal aim of both the current TTIP and TTP negotiations is to encourage trade by removing non-tariff trade barriers, and by harmonizing government regulations. The topic of this special session is the interplay among the ongoing TTIP/TPP trade negotiations, international differences in the regulation of genetically modified agricultural commodities and foods, and the coexistence of those GM products with non-GM products.

Submissions should consist of a two-page, 12-point font, single-spaced abstract that provides a clear explanation of what will be presented at the meeting. Authors should include in this abstract a discussion of the relevance of the topic, research methodology, potential for generating discussion during the meeting and potential for publication in JAFIO. In the submitted pdf, please do not include your name or contact information. Abstracts are due midnight (US Eastern Standard Time or UTC -5:00) January 30. Abstracts should be sent to TradeandGMOConfernece2015@auburn.edu with the subject GMCC-15 Trade Sessions.

Abstract authors will be notified of selection by February 27, 2015. Authors of the selected abstracts must submit complete papers for review by May 28, 2015. After blind-review of the papers, the coordinating committee will notify authors of selection for the conference by June 5, 2015. U.S.-based authors who receive support from USDA will be notified of this support by June 5, 2015.

Special funding has been set aside to support lead authors who are graduate-student researchers, junior scholars (who have completed doctoral studies after January 1, 2010), and 1890s faculty.  

For additional information, contact David Bullock (dsbulloc@illinois.edu) or Norbert Wilson (Norbert.Wilson@auburn.edu).