The 9th FCON builds on previous food conferences. It is a forum to bring together food scientists, researchers, academics, private sector entities, consumer networks, and policy champions for interdisciplinary exchange on evidence-based practices and innovations and to contribute, promote, and collaborate on shaping Nepal’s food and nutrition policies, food systems, and governance. The conference provides a valuable platform and opportunity for stakeholders to collaborate and work towards improving food security, food safety, and sustainable food system transformation for better nutrition and healthy diets in Nepal.

The 9th FCON 2023 will provide a forum for:

• Presenting evidence-based science and innovations (technologies, policies, practices) across the food system from supply to demand that reduce food waste and loss, while maintaining food safety and increasing access and affordability of nutritious foods in Nepal and discussing their relevance for current and future programs and policies around Food Safety Guidelines, Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act, and Food Systems Transformation in Nepal.
• Promoting engagement among national, regional, and provincial-level policy leaders, researchers, practitioners, and private sector actors (food industry, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and street vendors) to shape national ambitions on improving food safety and reducing food loss and waste of nutrient-rich foods through policy recommendations, innovations, education, and economic incentivization.
• Promoting inter- and cross-ministerial exchange and collaboration that collectively promote universal access to high quality, safe, and affordable diets, and shape the design of multi-win policies that fully integrate Nepal’s agriculture, health, food security, and food system transformation goals and strategies.
• Sharing novel research findings, success stories, case studies on gaps and opportunities at the pre- and post-farm gate level, within post-harvest handling, processing to storage, packaging, to market actors (SMEs, large producers), infrastructure, and market actions and retail promotion to drive consumer choices and behavior change.
• Providing opportunities for professional growth of local academics, students, young professionals, and institutions, and developing entrepreneurial skills of youth and women-led SMEs to build a resilient local food system.

• Food Safety and Governance: Science/evidence, technology, management system, innovative metrics and tools, and policy
• Nutrition and Nutrient-Dense Foods: Nutrition policy and intervention, technology/biotechnology, traditional and functional foods, nutraceuticals and dietary supplements, and metrics and tools
• Drivers of Food Systems Innovations: Market development and private sector, informal market sector, gender, youth
• Drivers of Food Systems, Science, and Technology: Novel and emerging processing technology, policy processes, infrastructure, environment, and climate change
• Food Loss and Waste/Byproduct Utilization: Science/evidence, technology, innovative metrics and tools, and policy

Please note that the deadline to submit abstracts has passed.

Guidelines for abstract submission

• All abstracts should be strictly within the thematic areas of the conference.
• The abstract (text only) should contain no more than 250 words (excluding title, keywords, name of authors, and their affiliation).
• No more than five key words should be provided along with an abstract.
• The abstract should include the aim of research, research question, methodology, findings, conclusion, and significance of the study.
• The Author’s list should include the full name of authors with affiliation.
• A full postal address including Email should be given for presenting and corresponding authors.
• It is required that you indicate whether you are submitting for an oral or poster presentation.
• These guidelines apply to abstracts for both oral and poster presentations.
• Abstract should be written in English (12 font size, Times New Roman font with 1.5 line space).

How to Submit

Authors should submit abstracts through the electronic submission portal by 18th May, 2023. Queries can be directed to the following address: foodconference23@nefosta.org.np

Selection Process

Abstracts will be reviewed by an expert panel and selected for either oral or poster presentations based on the scientific quality and relevance of the research to the themes above. Abstracts on research that is in progress or do not include data/findings will be considered for poster presentations only.

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