This year’s theme “Indigeneity and Food” echoes Philippe Descola’s call for the reconciliation of the nature and culture dichotomy. His Latin-American fieldwork – in the footsteps of his master, professor Claude Levi-Strauss – constitutes a strong case of rendering the “subtle sociability” of human and non-humans alike in the continuum of nature and culture.

The papers presented in this conference, originating from fifteen different countries and stemming from all continents, may help to cast some light on the variations and modalities of the nature-culture dualism, to the extent of questioning the validity of such an “antinomy of the human mind” as expressed by the great Levi-Strauss himself when he started reflecting on his own early academic writings.

Such intellectually stimulating debate could not have been programmed in Paris without the help of our partner and friend institution, namely the Gastronomy Institute of the University of Cergy-Pontoise. Thanks to their hard work, connections and a shared vision, we have been able to access the iconic historical facilities of La Sorbonne University, notwithstanding a superb venue in the heart of Le Marais district in Paris.

The gala dinner was planned and crafted but the students of CY Cergy-Cergy-Paris University’s Gastronomy Institute and so was the overall catering management of the conference. Most importantly, we got fascinated by the culinary dialogue and demonstrations held by 2 Michelin-Stars’ Chefs Pascal Barbot and Darren Teoh, respectively from Astrance and Dewakan restaurants.

We hosted 102 participants from 14 different countries.