November 3, 2025 Ref. No: 2025/19
The 5th International Congress on Agriculture and Food Ethics Concluded
Organized by the Agriculture and Food Ethics Association (TARGET) in collaboration with Akdeniz University Faculty of Agriculture, the 5th International Congress on Agriculture and Food Ethics was held in Antalya on October 23–24, 2025. This year’s special theme, “New Technologies and Ethical Values in the Agricultural and Food System,” drew great interest from stakeholders, academics, and experts across the field.
The Congress began with a mini concert, followed by opening remarks from Prof. Dr. Mustafa Erkan (Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Akdeniz University), Prof. Dr. Cemal Taluğ (President, TARGET), and Prof. Dr. Cengiz Toker (Vice Rector, Akdeniz University).
In the invited papers session chaired by Prof. Dr. Uygun Aksoy, Prof. Dr. N. Yasemin Yalım (Head of the Bioethics Unit, Turkish Philosophical Association) presented “Ethical Principles for Artificial Intelligence: Quo Vadimus?”, and Dr. Raimund Jehle (Regional Programme Leader, FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia) delivered a talk titled “From Innovation to Inclusion: Ethical Pathways for Agrifood Systems that Leave No One Behind.”
The first day concluded with an online mini-panel titled “What is Agriculture For?” featuring Prof. Dr. Paul Thompson and Dr. Özlem Yılmaz Silverman, where participants had the opportunity to discuss Prof. Thompson’s recently published book of the same name. The day ended with an opening cocktail reception.
The second day featured the first-ever Student Session, which attracted significant attention. In the final session, held online, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Koç presented “Hunger, Famine, and Silencing,” and Prof. Dr. Hilal Elver presented “Scientific, Ethical, and Criminal Responsibilities Reflected by the Famine in Gaza.”
Throughout the two days, the Congress hosted numerous oral and poster presentations and special sessions with distinguished speakers. In his closing remarks, Prof. Dr. Cemal Taluğ, President of TARGET, stated:
“We have successfully concluded our fifth congress. We extend our sincere gratitude to Akdeniz University Faculty of Agriculture, especially Dean Prof. Dr. Mustafa Erkan and his colleagues, for their hospitality and partnership. They embraced our Congress wholeheartedly and contributed immensely. We also thank our other supporters, partners, and participants for their valuable contributions. Together, we held a truly remarkable event.”
He added:
“Over two days, across two halls, we held 19 sessions featuring 41 invited speakers, 68 oral presentations, and several poster presentations. Our congress was attended by 270 participants, including 12 international speakers from 10 different countries. These figures reflect the rich and engaging content of our event. As with our previous congresses, we aim to publish the full-text proceedings of this fifth international congress before the end of the year.”
Speaking on future goals, Prof. Dr. Taluğ noted:
“Encouraged by the success of this congress, we are now beginning preparations for our upcoming initiatives. The year 2026 will mark the 10th anniversary of TARGET’s founding. As an experienced association, we aim to organize ten significant events during our 10th year. Foremost among these will be the EurSafe 2026 Conference, to be held on September 9–12, 2026, in collaboration with Cappadocia University. For the first time since its founding in 1999, the European Society for Agricultural and Food Ethics (EurSafe) will host a conference outside Europe—an acknowledgment of TARGET’s growing national and international stature. We also have other events planned at different times and locations, which we will share with you soon.”