Calls for Papers: Roots & Rights – People’s Food Systems Research Symposium, Sri Lanka

1. Background and Rationale

Sri Lanka’s food systems are at a critical juncture. Decades of agricultural policies emphasizing export-oriented cash crops, heavy agrochemical dependence, and consolidation of land ownership have undermined the resilience of smallholder peasant communities, coastal fisher-folk, and rural economies. The economic crisis of 2022-2023 exposed deep structural vulnerabilities in the nation’s food system, triggering food price inflation, disrupted supply chains, and heightened food insecurity for millions of Sri Lankans.

At the same time, across Sri Lanka’s rural landscapes and coastal communities, a quiet transformation is underway. Smallholder peasants are returning to traditional agroecological practices, fisher folk are organizing cooperative governance structures, and community-led food initiatives are demonstrating viable alternatives to the dominant industrial food paradigm. These grassroots innovations embody the principles of food sovereignty; the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems.

Despite this momentum, there remains a critical gap: systematic documentation, rigorous analysis, and evidence-based dissemination of these alternative food system models are limited. Policymakers often lack access to contextualized research that can inform pro-smallholder, pro-community policies. Practitioners working on the ground need platforms to share knowledge, learn from peer experiences, and build collective advocacy. Researchers need spaces to engage directly with communities to ensure their work is grounded in lived realities and translates into actionable change.

This Research Symposium seeks to bridge these gaps by convening researchers, academics, policymakers, smallholder food producers, fisher folk, civil society organizations, and community leaders to collectively examine, discuss, and disseminate evidence on Sri Lanka’s emerging people’s food systems and alternative rural economic development models.

2. About Organizing Institutions

Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR)

The Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) is a leading civil society organization in Sri Lanka dedicated to advancing food sovereignty, agrarian reform, and the rights of smallholder peasants’, and rural communities. Established in 1990, MONLAR has been at the forefront of grassroots movements advocating for equitable land distribution, sustainable agricultural practices, and participatory rural development policies that prioritize people over profit.

Our Mission “Cooperating towards building and strengthening a people’s movement to lobby for implementing promising policies that ensure the protection of human rights and natural resources by convincing the people about the threat of neoliberal economic policies and mobilizing smallholder peasants and marginalized communities, who have become victimes of those policies, in collaboration with other progressive groups”

Our Vision ‘A just society ensuring the existence of Nature and all forms of lives’

Bridging the Evidence Gap: MONLAR’s Commitment to Research

MONLAR recognizes that transformative social change requires not only grassroots mobilization and political advocacy but also robust scientific evidence demonstrating the viability, sustainability, and benefits of alternative food system models. For too long, policymakers and mainstream agricultural institutions have dismissed agroecology, food sovereignty, and community-led development as idealistic or unscalable, largely due to the lack of systematic, peer-reviewed research in the Sri Lankan context.

This symposium represents MONLAR’s strategic effort to bridge this critical evidence gap. By convening researchers, practitioners, and communities, MONLAR aims to:

• Generate rigorous scientific evidence on the productivity, profitability, nutritional outcomes, environmental sustainability, and social equity impacts of agroecological and food sovereignty-based approaches in Sri Lanka.

• Document and validate grassroots innovations and traditional knowledge systems that have sustained rural livelihoods for generations but remain undervalued in policy discourse.

•  Translate research findings into accessible, actionable policy briefs and advocacy materials that strengthen MONLAR’s campaigns for agrarian reform, ecological agriculture, and food system transformation.

• Build collaborative partnerships between researchers and communities, fostering participatory research methodologies that center the voices, priorities, and knowledge of peasants and fisher folk.

•    Counter dominant narratives that prioritize industrial agriculture, corporate control of food systems, and export-oriented models by providing compelling, locally grounded evidence of viable alternatives.

•    Contribute to the global body of knowledge on food sovereignty, agroecology, and alternative rural economies, positioning Sri Lanka as a site of innovation and learning for the international community.

MONLAR believes that evidence-based advocacy is essential for ensuring food sovereignty becomes more than a rallying cry; it must become a policy reality. This symposium is a vital step in that journey, creating a space where science meets solidarity, where research informs action, and where the voices of those who feed the nation are finally heard, respected, and acted upon.

3. Sri Lankan Context: Food System Challenges and Opportunities

Sri Lanka’s food system challenges are multi-dimensional:

• Agrochemical Dependency: The green revolution legacy left Sri Lankan agriculture heavily reliant on imported chemical fertilizers and pesticides, creating economic vulnerability and environmental degradation.
• Smallholder Marginalization: Over 80% of Sri Lanka’s farmers are smallholders (less than 2 hectares), yet they face limited access to credit, markets, extension services, and land tenure security.
• Fisheries Exploitation: Coastal fishing communities face threats from large-scale trawling, marine resource depletion, climate change impacts, and inadequate policy protections for small-scale fisher folks rights.
• Food Import Dependence: Sri Lanka imports significant quantities of rice, wheat, pulses, dairy, and other staples, exposing the country to global price volatility and foreign exchange pressures.
• Climate Vulnerability: Erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, floods, and cyclones increasingly disrupt agricultural production, particularly affecting rainfed farming communities.
• Rural Poverty and Youth Migration: Limited rural economic opportunities drive youth migration to urban areas and abroad, eroding the social fabric of rural communities and threatening intergenerational knowledge transfer in farming and fishing.

Yet, alongside these challenges lie significant opportunities:

• Traditional Knowledge Systems: Sri Lanka possesses rich indigenous and traditional knowledge in agroecology, water management (e.g., ancient irrigation systems), seed conservation, and integrated farming systems.
• Agroecology Movements: Peasant networks are successfully practicing ecological farming, natural farming, permaculture, and mixed cropping systems that reduce input costs, enhance soil health, and improve nutrition.
• Fisher Folk Organizing: Coastal and Inland fisher communities are forming cooperatives and advocating for sustainable small-scale fisheries management, asserting their rights against industrial fishing encroachment.
• Local Food Markets: Community-supported agriculture initiatives, farmers’ markets, and direct producer-to-consumer networks are gaining traction in urban and semi-urban and even in some rural areas.
• Policy Openings: Recent government commitments to organic agriculture, chemical fertilizer reductions, and climate-resilient agriculture and rebuilding producer cooperative systems create potential entry points for systemic food system transformation.
• Civil Society Mobilization: A vibrant network of NGOs, farmer organizations, and grassroots movements advocates for food sovereignty, land rights, and rural development justice.

This symposium aims to document, analyze, and amplify the voices and evidence emerging from these opportunities, while critically examining systemic barriers and pathways for scaling transformative food system change in Sri Lanka.

4. Symposium Objectives

The People’s Food Systems Research Symposium has the following core objectives:

1. To provide a platform for researchers to present and disseminate findings on food sovereignty-based people’s food systems, agroecological practices, sustainable small-scale fisheries, and alternative rural economic development models in Sri Lanka.
2. To facilitate knowledge exchange and dialogue among researchers, policymakers, practitioners, community leaders, farmers, fisher- folk, and civil society organizations working on food system transformation.
3. To bridge the research-practice-policy gap by translating research findings into actionable policy recommendations and community-led action plans.
4. To empower smallholder food producers and fisher- folk by providing them with a platform to share their experiences, innovations, and advocacy demands rooted in evidence and solidarity.
5. To strengthen networks and build collaborative partnerships among stakeholders committed to advancing food sovereignty, agroecology, and rural development justice in Sri Lanka.
6. To generate knowledge products — including policy briefs, community action plans, symposium declarations, and research compilations — that contribute to ongoing advocacy and systemic change efforts.

5. Symposium Themes and Research Areas

We invite research contributions across the following thematic areas relevant to Sri Lanka’s people’s food systems:

Theme 1: Food Sovereignty and Agroecology in Sri Lanka

• Agroecological transitions: Peasant experiences, innovations, and outcomes from ecological farming, natural farming, permaculture, and integrated farming systems
• Traditional and indigenous agricultural knowledge systems and their contemporary relevance
• Seed sovereignty, farmer-managed seed systems, and agrobiodiversity conservation
• Soil health, composting, and organic nutrient management practices in diverse agroecological zones
• Water management innovations: Tank-based irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and community-managed water systems
• Impacts of agroecology on farm productivity, profitability, nutrition, and environmental sustainability

Theme 2: Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries and Coastal Livelihoods

• Community-based fisheries governance and co-management models
• Small-scale fisher rights, tenure security, and advocacy movements
• Sustainable fishing practices and traditional ecological knowledge in Sri Lankan coastal communities
• Impacts of climate change, marine pollution, and industrial fishing on small-scale fisheries
• Fisher folk cooperatives, value chains, and market access strategies
• Gender dimensions of fisheries work: Women’s roles, rights, and economic empowerment in fishing communities

Theme 3: Alternative Rural Economic Development Models

• Community-based solidarity economic initiatives, Peasant producer collectives, and cooperative economic models
• Rural livelihood diversification strategies beyond agriculture and fisheries
• Local food systems, community-supported agriculture, and direct-to-consumer marketing
• Rural-urban linkages and semi-urban agriculture in Sri Lanka’s context
• Rural youth engagement in agriculture and fisheries: Opportunities and constraints
• Challenges and developments in organic certification, fair trade, and value-added product development for small -scale food producers

Theme 4: Food System Governance, Policy, and Advocacy

• Analysis of national agricultural and fisheries policies from a food sovereignty perspective
• Policy innovations at local and provincial levels supporting smallholder farmers and fisher -falk
• Land rights, land tenure security, and agrarian reform in Sri Lanka
• The right to food framework and its application in the Sri Lankan context
• Civil society advocacy for food system transformation: Strategies, successes, and challenges
• Role of peasant and fisher -folk movements in shaping food and agriculture policy

Theme 5: Women, Equity, and Social Justice in Food Systems

• Women’s roles, contributions, and agency in agriculture, fisheries, and rural economies
• Gender-responsive approaches to agricultural extension, credit, and resource access
• Intersectionality: How caste, ethnicity, class, and gender shape food system experiences and outcomes
• Youth perspectives on food sovereignty, land access, and rural futures
• Food justice movements addressing hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity among marginalized communities

Theme 6: Climate Change, Resilience, and Adaptation in Food Systems

• Climate-resilient agricultural practices: Drought-tolerant crops, flood management, and climate adaptation strategies
• Community-based climate adaptation planning and implementation in rural areas
• Impacts of climate variability on food security, agricultural productivity, and fisher livelihoods
• Role of agroecology and biodiversity in building climate resilience
• Indigenous and local knowledge systems for climate adaptation 

Theme 7: Nutrition, Health, and Culturally Appropriate Food Systems

• Links between food system transformation and nutritional outcomes in rural communities
• Traditional food crops, nutritional diversity, and dietary patterns in Sri Lanka
• School feeding programs, community kitchens, and food security interventions
• Agrochemical exposure, health impacts, and transitions to safer farming practices
• Food safety, quality, and consumer trust in local food systems

6. Who Should Submit?

We welcome submissions from:

• Academic researchers (faculty, postdoctoral researchers, PhD candidates, master’s students)
• Independent researchers and consultants working on food systems, rural development, and agriculture
• Civil society organizations (CSOs) conducting action research or participatory research with communities
• Policymakers and government agency researchers with evidence-based insights on food systems
• Community-based researchers and grassroots practitioners documenting innovations from the ground
• International researchers with comparative or collaborative research on Sri Lanka’s food systems

7. Types of Submissions

We invite the following types of submissions:

A. FULL RESEARCH PAPERS

Original research presenting empirical findings, case studies, or theoretical contributions relevant to people’s food systems in Sri Lanka. Length: 4,000 – 6,000 words (excluding references and appendices) Format: Structured abstract (250-300 words), introduction, literature review, methodology, findings, discussion, conclusion, and references. Tables, figures, and maps may be included.

B. POLICY PAPERS

Evidence-based papers analyzing existing policies, proposing policy reforms, or presenting policy case studies relevant to food sovereignty and rural development. Length: 3,000 – 4,000 words Format: Executive summary, policy context, evidence/analysis, policy recommendations, and references.

C. PRACTICE NOTES / CASE STUDIES

Shorter contributions documenting community-led innovations, grassroots practices, or organizational case studies demonstrating food sovereignty in action. Length: 2,000 – 3,000 words Format: Context, description of practice/innovation, outcomes/impacts, lessons learned, and implications for scaling or replication.

D. EXTENDED ABSTRACTS (for oral presentations without full papers)

Detailed abstracts presenting preliminary findings, work-in-progress, or conceptual frameworks that merit discussion at the symposium. Length: 800 – 1,200 words Format: Background, objectives, methods (if applicable), key findings or arguments, and implications.

8. Submission Process and Timeline

STAGE	ACTIVITY	DEADLINE
Stage 1	Abstract Submission (250-300 words)	04th of March 2026
Stage 2	Notification of Abstract Acceptance	10th Of March 2026
Stage 3	Full Paper / Extended Abstract Submission	18th of March 2026
Stage 4	Final Notification and Program Confirmation	22nd of March 2026
SYMPOSIUM	Research Symposium Event	26th of March 2026

9. Submission Requirements

All submissions must meet the following requirements:

• Language: English or Sinhala or Tamil (with English abstract if not in English)
• Format: Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF format. Use Times New Roman or Arial, 12-point font, 1.5 line spacing.
• Abstract: All submissions must include a structured abstract (250-300 words) covering background, objectives, methods (if applicable), key findings, and implications.
• Keywords: Provide 4-6 keywords relevant to your submission.
• Author Information: Include names, institutional affiliations, contact details, and a brief bio (50-100 words) for each author.
• Ethics and Permissions: Submissions involving human subjects must confirm ethical approval and informed consent processes. Community-based research should acknowledge community partnership and co-authorship where appropriate.
• References: Use a consistent citation style (APA 7th edition preferred).
• Originality: Submissions can be original work or previously published (with necessary approvals required parties).

10. Review Process

All submissions will undergo a review process:

• Abstracts will be reviewed by the symposium organizing committee for relevance, clarity, and alignment with symposium themes.
• Full papers and extended abstracts will be peer-reviewed by at least two reviewers with expertise in the relevant thematic area.
• Review criteria include: originality, methodological rigor, relevance to Sri Lankan food systems, clarity of findings, and contribution to policy/practice.
• Authors will receive feedback and may be asked to revise submissions before final acceptance.
• Accepted papers will be included in the symposium proceedings and will be considered for publication in a special journal on People’s Food Systems (details to be announced).

Diverse Reviewing Panel

We are committed to a review process that values diverse forms of knowledge and expertise. Our reviewing panel will include not only academic researchers but also experienced practitioners, grassroots organizers, agroecology experts, community leaders, and professionals working in affiliated fields such as agroecology, fisheries management, rural development, food policy, and social movements. This approach ensures that submissions are evaluated not only for their academic rigor but also for their practical relevance, applicability to community contexts, alignment with food sovereignty principles, and potential to inform real-world action. We believe that transformative research emerges from dialogue between scholarly inquiry and lived experience, and our review process reflects this commitment.

PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITIES

Outstanding papers presented at the symposium will have exceptional publication opportunities:

1.  International Journal Publication: Selected high-quality research papers will be invited for submission to a special issue in a peer-reviewed international journal focusing on food systems, agroecology, rural development, or sustainable agriculture. (Journal partnership details to be confirmed and announced.)

2.  MONLAR Digital Publications Platform: All accepted papers and proceedings will be published on MONLAR’s digital publications platform and website, ensuring wide accessibility to researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and civil society networks across Sri Lanka and internationally.

3.  Regional and Global Networks: Papers will be disseminated through MONLAR’s partnerships with regional and international food sovereignty networks, including La Via Campesina and the International Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty (IPC), and other allied organizations, amplifying research visibility globally.

4.  Policy Brief Series: Research findings from selected papers will be synthesized into accessible policy briefs and published by MONLAR for targeted dissemination to policymakers, government agencies, and advocacy networks.

5.  Media and Public Outreach: Key research findings will be featured in press releases, articles, interviews, and social media content to reach broader audiences, including national and international media outlets.

Authors are encouraged to indicate their interest in pursuing international journal publication when submitting their papers. MONLAR will provide editorial support and guidance throughout the publication process.

11. How to Submit

Submit your abstract and papers via email to:

Submission Email: maheshika.we@monlar.lk Subject Line: Food Systems Symposium Submission – [Your Name]

For questions or inquiries, please contact:

Maheshi Premachandra- +94 77 677 4367

We look forward to receiving your contributions and to your participation in this critical dialogue on Sri Lanka’s people’s food systems. Together, we can build a more just, sustainable, and resilient food future for all.

For the People, By the People: Reclaiming Our Food Systems

Download the Concept Note From Here