5th ISA Forum of Sociology (6-11 July 2025)

The proposed session will explore the complex interplay between global conflicts, environmental damage, and advancements in food technology. The session will focus on how conflicts, especially in the Global North, exacerbate environmental degradation and food insecurity, disproportionately affecting the Global South. Utilizing the polycrisis framework, the sessions encourages the examination of the interconnected nature of these crises and their broad sociological implications.

While the innovations like new food and agricultural technologies promise solutions to food security challenges, they also raise critical socio-economic questions. Can technological interventions bridge the gap between the Global North and South, or do they risk deepening existing disparities in the wake of conflict induced environmental damages?

Moreover, the session will highlight the gendered consequences of these developments, particularly for women in the Global South. Women, who play a crucial role in food production and household food security, face disproportionate impacts from environmental damage, food scarcity and conflicts. The session will explore whether technological advancements in agriculture can empower women by providing new opportunities or if they may further marginalize them by neglecting systemic inequities.

Adopting a debate format, the session will encourage diverse perspectives and robust discussions. Researchers and practitioners with a focus on the Global South will provide essential insights for a comprehensive understanding of the issues. By employing the polycrisis framework and sociological imagination, this session aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and generate innovative ideas for addressing global challenges in food security and environmental sustainability amid ongoing conflicts.