Who are we?
An in-person Symposium in Oxford/UK and a global online event with keynotes, papers and meals, open to all. Food is at the core of what we do; for over forty years, academics, amateurs and aficionados from all areas of life have come together to share, learn and be inspired by each other.
The next symposium
10 – 12 July 2026 at St Catherine’s College, Oxford/UK
Online TBC
People suffering chronic poverty must find food to eat. Poverty foods have varied across time, place, and culture, ranging from the products of subsistence agriculture and foraging to mass-produced industrial foods. The recent rise of starvation as a weapon of war and oppression has lent increased urgency to the theme of Poverty Food, chosen in 2023 as the topic for the 2026 Oxford Food Symposium. We invite proposals on this theme from any number of disciplines and especially welcome approaches exploring how lived experiences of poverty translate into dietary practices.
Our ongoing activities
We are active all year round, not just during the symposium in July. Join us for online discussions at the virtual OFS Kitchen Table, subscribe to the monthly What’s Cooking newsletter or delve into the amazing riches of our archive.
Expand the table
Improve the plate
