EARTH 2025 – Experiences and Innovation for Sustainable Food and Tourism

21–22 November 2025

E A R T H

Experiential Approaches in Responsible Tourism and Hospitality

CALL FOR PAPERS

EARTH 2025 – Experiences and Innovation for Sustainable Food and Tourism

21–22 November 2025, Brașov, Romania
Faculty of Food and Tourism, Transilvania University of Brașov

About EARTH 2025

In an era where sustainability, digital transformation and authentic experiences are reshaping the global tourism and hospitality landscape, EARTH 2025 invites academics, researchers, practitioners and industry leaders to explore new pathways for responsible growth. Millennials and Generation Z, the most influential consumer cohorts of today, demand ethical, personalized, and environmentally conscious experiences - from the food they eat to the destinations they choose.

The conference creates a multidisciplinary platform to discuss innovative practices in sustainable gastronomy, responsible tourism management, consumer psychology, smart design and technology integration. By bridging academia and industry, EARTH 2025 aims to inspire actionable solutions for the future of tourism, food systems and hospitality.

Conference Sections

  1. Sustainable food systems and culinary innovation

From local ingredients to responsible food and beverage experiences

  • Valorization of local flora and native resources in gastronomy
  • Innovations in food and beverage processing
  • Food safety, waste reduction and circular economy practices in HoReCa
  • Nutrition, well-being and sustainable menus in tourism and hospitality
  • Emerging technologies for short and efficient food supply chains
  1. Responsible tourism, hospitality and consumer experiences

Management, economics, branding and the psychology of sustainable travel

  • Sustainable management and marketing strategies in tourism and hospitality
  • Regional branding and authentic tourism experiences
  • Consumer psychology and purchasing behavior in responsible tourism
  • Economic models and policies for sustainable tourism development
  • Communicating sustainability and educating travelers
  1. Smart design, mobility and technology for tourism and hospitality

Reimagining spaces, transport and digital innovation for sustainable destinations

  • Sustainable design and renovation of tourism and HoReCa spaces
  • Eco-friendly mobility and transportation for tourist destinations
  • Digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence in tourism and hospitality
  • Smart hotels, IoT, AR/VR and enhanced tourist experiences
  • Infrastructure management in tourism with low environmental impact

Important Dates

  • Abstract submission deadline: 5 November 2025
  • Notification of acceptance:  10 November 2025
  • Full paper submission deadline: 1 December 2025

Conference dates: 21–22 November 2025

Publication:

Selected papers will be considered for publication in:

  1. Special Issue in Sustainability (MDPI): EARTH 2025—Experiences and Innovation for Sustainable Food and Tourism. Open access; submissions via the MDPI system; standard journal peer review applies. Manuscript submissions are open until 18 September 2026.

Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Liviu Gaceu; Prof. Dr. Ray F. Iunius; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Laura Cismaru; Prof. Dr. Simona Stan.

Special Issue page: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/G9OR7Q13Z0

(Note: Acceptance to the conference does not guarantee acceptance to the journal. Article Processing Charges (APCs) apply according to MDPI policy.)

  1. Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Brașov – Series II – Special Issue: Sustainable valorization of native and wild plants in food, gastronomy and agro-industry
  2. Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Brașov – Series V – Special section: Sustainable business models and value creation in tourism, hospitality and food systems
  3. All accepted and presented papers at EARTH 2025 – Experiences and Innovation for Sustainable Food and Tourism will be eligible for inclusion in the official Conference Proceedings, published by Transilvania University Press of Brașov, with ISBN.

Scientific Committee

Prof.dr. Colin JOHNSON, San Francisco State University

Prof.dr.ec. Simona STAN, Department of Management and Marketing, University of Montana

Prof.dr. Monica BOSCAIU, Polytechnic University of Valencia

Prof.dr.eng. Ray IUNIUS, CEO winsed.swiss

Prof.dr.ec. Gabriela ȚIGU, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Tourism, Bucharest University of Economic Studies

Prof.dr.ec. Ana ISPAS, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, Transilvania University of Brașov

Prof.dr. Dan Cristian VODNAR, Senate President, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca 

Prof.univ.dr.habil. Dan Cristian DABIJA, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Babes-Bolyai University

Assoc.prof.dr.habil George LĂZĂROIU, Curtin University, Australia

Dr. ing. Katarína VALÁŠKOVÁ, Vice-dean for education, University of Žilina

Prof. Amalia MITELUT - University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Biotechnology

Prof.dr.habil. Răzvan Cătălin DOBREA, Faculty of Management, Bucharest University of Economic Studies

Prof. Dr. Judit OLÁH, John von Neumann University Doctoral School of Management and Business Administration & Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen

Assoc.Prof. Pavel STANCIU, Faculty of Economics, Administration and Business, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava

Prof. dr. Jozsef POPP, John von Neumann University Doctoral School of Management and Business, Administration, 6000 Kecskemét, Hungary

Prof. dr. Cristina Bianca POCOL, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Director of Doctoral School in Agricultural Engineering

Prof.dr.habil. Bianca TESCAȘIU, Department of Marketing, Tourism and International Business, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration

Prof.dr.eng.habil. Liviu GACEU, Director of the EBIOTEFA Research Center - Eco-biotechnologies, Transilvania University of Brașov

Prof.dr.eng.habil. Cristina Maria CANJA, Director of the Food and Tourism Engineering and Management Department, Faculty of Food and Tourism, Transilvania University of Brașov

Prof.dr.eng.habil. Mirabela LUPU, Faculty of Food and Tourism, Transilvania University of Brașov

Prof.dr.habil. Florentina MATEI, Faculty of Food and Tourism, Transilvania University of Brașov

Conf.dr.psih. Laura CISMARU, Vice-dean for Research and Public Relations, Faculty of Food and Tourism, Transilvania University of Brașov

More details available HERE.

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Further information may be obtained by writing to the following address:
📩 earth@unitbv.ro