Gustolab International Presents Research at the 16th International Conference on Food Studies in Osaka, Japan

Gustolab International participated in the Sixteenth International Conference on Food Studies, held from 10 to 12 October 2026 at Osaka University’s Center for Education in Liberal Arts and Sciences (CELAS), Japan. The conference brought together an international community of scholars, researchers, and practitioners through in-person and online sessions.

Organised in conjunction with the Food Studies Research Network, the conference was co-hosted by the Japan Food Studies College and the Graduate School of Humanities at Osaka University. This landmark edition marked the first time the conference had been held in Japan.

Aiko Tanaka, Gustolab International’s Lead for the Japan Food Studies Program and Representative Director of Japan Food Studies College, served as Conference Chair, helping lead this landmark gathering of the international food studies community.

Centred on the theme Living with Water: Food and Life, the conference explored the complex relationships between water systems, food cultures, ecological environments, and human life. Its interdisciplinary programme created opportunities for dialogue across diverse research perspectives, connecting questions of food and sustainability with cultural heritage, social practices, and contemporary global challenges.

Representing Gustolab International, Pier Alberto Merli, the main presenter, and Jack Harris, Director of Extension Programs & International Development, presented a paper entitled Contamination, situated within the field of Critical Food Studies.

Their presentation examined the concept of contamination through two contrasting interpretive frameworks. On the one hand, contamination can be understood as a generative process of cultural interaction, through which cultural boundaries are crossed, hybrid identities emerge, and new forms of symbolic exchange and meaning are produced. On the other hand, contamination can be framed as a threat to cultural integrity, reinforcing concerns about the preservation of identity and the boundaries between cultures.

By examining these contrasting interpretations, the paper invited critical reflection on how cultural mixing is understood, represented, and evaluated. It also highlighted food as a meaningful site for exploring intercultural encounters, cultural boundaries, and the ongoing negotiation of identity.

Gustolab International’s participation reflects its ongoing engagement with Critical Food Studies and its commitment to connecting academic inquiry with international and intercultural learning. The conference also provided an opportunity to strengthen dialogue with colleagues in Japan and to exchange perspectives on the cultural and social dimensions of food.

Building on its long-standing relationship with Japan Food Studies College, Gustolab International looks forward to continuing to foster academic exchange and collaborative initiatives that explore food as a lens through which to understand culture, society, and sustainability.