Going Veg*n: Plant-based food advocacy and sustainability intersections in the Sino-cultural Sphere

2025-04-08 - 2025-04-08

Gina Song

HK-120, Hakka Building, Liou-Jia Campus, NYCU

Event Photo｜LINK

Event Report｜LINK

📌Going Veg*n: Plant-based food advocacy and sustainability intersections in the Sino-cultural Sphere

🔶Abstract

While the Sino-cultural sphere has deep-rooted traditions of vegetarianism that are largely tied to religious practices, the past decade has witnessed significant transformations regarding meatless diets. Driven by growing awareness of the climate, health, and ethical issues connected to food production and consumption, a new generation of veg*ns (inclusive of vegans and vegetarians) in both Taiwan and China are increasingly engaged in dietary and lifestyle advocacy centered on plant-based living.

This development is characterized by the founding of vegan and animal advocacy organizations, the rise of veg*n fairs, and the proliferation of veg*n restaurants and plant-based food products. At first glance, these developments seemingly reflect the global expansion of veganism as a trend. However, the cases of veg*n advocacy in China and Taiwan offer unique comparative insight into the local processes involved in the adoption of ecological norms and plant-based food practices.

Drawing from interdisciplinary discussions on sustainability transitions, social movements, and vegan studies, this talk will discuss the role of vegan advocates as moral entrepreneurs, actors who are actively constructing new moral markets that intersect with distinct visions of ecological modernity.

Date: 2025/4/8 (Tue) 19:00-21:00

Venue: HK-120, Hakka Building, Liou-Jia Campus, NYCU

Speaker: Gina Song（PhD Candidate at the Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University）

Gina Song Lopez is a PhD candidate at the Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University, Sweden. Her doctoral project focuses on the rise of the vegan advocacy movements in Taiwan and China. Her interest in this topic draws from the emergence of climate and animal advocacy discourses advanced by a new generation of vegans and vegetarians and the noticeable growth of the plant-based food market. Her project is particularly interested in examining how ‘new’ veganism is understood and promoted locally. She is also a member of the Lund University Critical Animal Studies Network (LUCASN).

Moderator: Jeffrey Nicolaisen (Assistant Professor at the Department of Religion and Culture, Hsuan Chuang University)

Note:

The speech will be delivered in English, but discussions and interactions in both Mandarin and English are welcome!
This lecture is for in-person attendance only and requires online pre-registration.

🔗Online Registration

https://forms.gle/rYuCw9xTeW5BfcZR9

Registration Deadline: 4/6

Organizer:

Research Cluster on “Environmental Crises and Multi-species Justice in the 21st Century: Toward Decolonization Beyond the Human”, International Center for Cultural Studies, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences / Master's Program in Ethnicity and Culture, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Co-organizer:

International Master’s Program in Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, University System of Taiwan

Going Veg*n: Plant-based food advocacy and sustainability intersections in the Sino-cultural Sphere

Domenico Napolitano 2025 訪台講座：Organizational Studies and Disability: Identity Work, Accommodations, Accessibility

2025六燃文件展：洄游六燃，洄游頭前溪

Film Screening & Discussion｜The Ethics of Human and Artistic Resistance II: THE MAN WHO COULD NOT REMAIN SILENT