Food goes far beyond nutrition. It reflects sociocultural identities and territorial heritage, consumption dynamics, economic development, public policies, sustainability concerns, food production, distribution and consumption. Understanding food production and food products, practices and strategies offers key insights into both historical traditions and contemporary lifestyles. Around the world, food and drink serve as powerful symbols of identity and attract interest through diverse value chains, economic interests and cultural expressions. On the other hand, traditional and local food systems contribute to cultural heritage, biodiversity conservation and sustainability matters from environmental, sociocultural and economic concerns.

The Collection "Food, societies and sustainability: Contemporary concerns around local food production and consumption" explores how food is locally produced, promoted and protected through public and private initiatives, food-based experiences, media platforms, and sustainable dietary and productive practices. It encourages contributions that examine how food concerns are shaped in contemporary societies, how globalization is affecting local food cultures, emphasizing the role of food as both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Food preferences, food stereotypes, and attitudes towards food sustainability, analysed through the lenses of generational gaps and gender differences are also welcomed. This Collection seeks original research and case studies using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Keywords: Food Systems, Food culture, Food Production, Locality, Heritage, Tourism, Gastronomy, Agricultural Biodiversity, Livestock Biodiversity, Food Sustainability, Regenerative Tourism.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 10, SDG 12, and SDG 17.

This Collection, titled "Weather and Climate Extremes: A Special Reference to Multidisciplinary Research and Policy Developments," focuses on the increasing global challenges posed by extreme weather events and climate phenomena. As these events intensify due to changing climate patterns, their impacts on ecosystems, infrastructure, human health, and socioeconomic systems become more pronounced, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and addressing these complexities.

The Collection aims to bring together research from diverse fields, including atmospheric sciences, hydrology, ecology, engineering, public health, and social sciences. It encourages innovative contributions that explore cutting-edge solutions to predict, manage, and mitigate the effects of climate extremes. Topics may include advanced modelling techniques, nature-based solutions, climate-resilient infrastructure, risk assessment frameworks, and strategies for equitable policy development. The emphasis is placed on integrating scientific understanding with actionable solutions that address vulnerability, resilience, and adaptation.

Moreover, this Collection seeks to foster cross-disciplinary collaborations to bridge the gap between scientific research and policy implementation. By highlighting case studies, theoretical advancements, and practical approaches, it aims to advance the dialogue on climate resilience and inform decision-making processes globally. This platform aspires to serve as a critical resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers striving to navigate the escalating challenges of a changing climate.

Given the increasing frequency and intensity of climate extremes, this topic holds critical importance. Such extremes profoundly affect ecosystems, infrastructure, and human livelihoods, demanding coordinated efforts across disciplines to analyse risks, develop mitigation strategies, and inform policy. This Collection seeks to bring together cutting-edge research and innovative approaches from diverse fields, bridging scientific understanding and actionable policy frameworks. The proposed focus areas include, but are not limited to:

• Advances in modelling and forecasting weather and climate extremes

• Impacts on ecosystems, agriculture, water resources, and public health

• Nature-based solutions and climate-resilient infrastructure

• Interdisciplinary frameworks for risk management and adaptation planning

• Policy advancements addressing vulnerability, resilience, and equity

This call aims to engage a broad community of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to enhance global discourse and support evidence-based decision-making by emphasising multidisciplinary contributions.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG

Keywords: Weather Extremes Modeling; Climate Change Impacts; Risk Assessment Frameworks; Nature-Based Solutions (NbS); Resilient Infrastructure Design; Equitable Policy Development; Interdisciplinary Climate Research; Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies; Socioeconomic Vulnerability Analysis; Extreme Event Forecasting