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IntroductionWe  are at a critical junction of modern history. On the one hand, we  celebrate human creativity and capacity to transform nature. On the  other hand, we are concerned that these very same efforts may be leading  to a catastrophic conclusion.Globally  we have over one billion people suffering from hunger and malnutrition.  The poor have been devastated by a recent food price crisis brought on  in part by the conversion of food to produce bio-fuels. At the same  time, many suffer from obesity, diabetes, cancer and related health  problems brought on by the food they eat. And research on climate change  raises additional concerns about the sustainability of the way we  produce and distribute foods.Wars,  deepening financial crises, corruption, political alienation and apathy  reduce our resilience to cope with natural disasters. Under-resourced  governments, overwhelmed by the neo-liberal assault, military conflicts,  and declining public revenues, are unable to provide the social  programs needed by the victims of human generated disasters, including  environmental disasters. Self-interest and short-term thinking,  reflected in today&#8217;s global economy, undermine the legitimacy of  leadership being provided by the global corporate elite.Public  apathy and distrust of fundamental societal institutions have resulted  in increased political alienation. And as global pessimism widens, more  and more people live in fear of the future or seek refuge in old dogmas.It  is time for sociologists to respond to these problems. We have the  capacity to diagnose the causes of these problems, explore solutions to  them and critically evaluate alternative paradigms.Using classical sociological theory and concepts as well as more modern ones, we invite you to re-define the rural-urban  divide, to explore new forms of social organization, to examine  alternative agri-food regimes, and to re-envision utopias.The  World Congress encourages interdisciplinary collaboration for dialogue  and exchange towards advancing application of sociological inquiry in  order to the improvement of the quality of rural life and broader  understanding of the agri-food system.&#160;The  program for the Congress will include keynote lectures by invited  speakers as well as opportunities for participants to present results of  their research results. The Program Committee encourages diverse  presentation formats, including traditional paper sessions, thematic  panel discussions or debates, roundtables, and workshops.Session Proposals&#160;We  invite session proposals or individual paper proposals dealing with the  crisis threatening rural livelihoods and the agri-food system, and  emerging paradigms for change. Submissions dealing with the following  sub-themes are encouraged:    spatial perspectives in rurality    the role of old and new co-operatives in agro-food systems    family farming    rural gender issues    ethnicity, race and migrant labour    mobility and migration    social and economic dynamics of rural life    third sector and rural development    poverty, marginalization and hunger    food and water security    food safety and food quality    alternative food movements    the future of food consumption    food and energy crisis&#160;    implications of the financial crisis for rural development.    local responses to the global crisis    climate change and sustainable ruralities    multifunctionality, sustainability and the new rural society&#160;    consuming the rural, rural consumption&#160;    technological ruralities&#160;    new technologies, seeds, bio-piracy,&#160;    rural restructuring and adaptation&#160;    animal farming: ethical and environmental challenges for the future    land tenure, land grab, landlessness    future of agricultureThe program committee will consider other thematic proposals as well.&#160;Please  send the session title and the name and organizational affiliation of  the session organizer. Please also include a short objective of the  session (150 words). If you suggest a chair for the sessions, please  include this as well.&#160;Submissions  will be accepted in English. The program committee will work with  session organizers to ensure disciplinary diversity and content  compatibility.Note:&#160;Sessions  should be an appropriate length for the time allocated. Individual  papers are typically 15 minutes with 5 additional minutes for questions  (for a total of 20 minutes). Sessions will be 1 &#189; hours in length.  Therefore, a session will typically have 4 presenters.Mail proposals to Manuel Belo Moreira - mbelomoreira@isa.utl.ptPaper ProposalsA brief abstract (150 words), along with paper title, and the  name(s), affiliation(s) and email address(es) of the author(s).  Submissions will be accepted in English only. The Program Committee will  work to ensure disciplinary diversity and content compatibility when  placing individual papers within sessions.At  least one of the authors of the accepted papers is required to register  until May 15, 2012, otherwise papers will not be included in the  congress program.Important datesAugust, 31, 2011: Call for working sessions deadlineJanuary 15, 2012: Call for abstracts deadlineMarch, 30, 2012: Early registrations deadlineMay, 15, 2012: Deadline for presenters' registrationProgram CommitteeMustafa KocDepartment of sociology &#38; Centre for Studies in Food Security, Ryerson University, Canadamkoc@soc.ryerson.caMara MieleCardiff University School of City and Regional Planning, Glamorgan Building,King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, UK, CF10 3WAMieleM@Cardiff.ac.ukMarie-Christine RenardDepartamento de Sociologia Rural Universidade Aut&#243;noma Chapingo, M&#233;xicoe-mail: mrenard@taurus.chapingo.mxCongress VenueThe XIII World Congress of Rural Sociology will be held at two different venues.Plenary Conferences in the first day will be at the Belem Cultural Centre located between the magnificent Jer&#243;nimos Monastery and the Bel&#233;m Tower.This venue was constructed between 1988 and 1994 with the intention to host the EC Presidency in 1996. The Belem Cultural Centre  in Lisbon is one of the most important cultural artifacts in Portugal.  It was designed by three different architects who combined their efforts  to create the masterpiece.  It has three sections, each of which is  designed differently. Together, they are considered to be an  architectural jewel, due to the flexibility and space they offer.This  unique space combines commercial activity with prestigious cultural  activity.  It consists of a set of modern, spacious concert halls,  conference rooms, and foyers, all fully furnished and equipped to the  highest standard, assuring a premium quality level according to renowned  international parameters.Ordinary  Sessions and Symposia will take place at the Superior Institute of  Social and Political Sciences at the Campus da Ajuda in Lisbon.&#160;Local Arrangments committeeManuel Belo Moreirainstituto Superior de AgronomiaUniversidade T&#233;cnica de Lisboa1349-017 LISBOA, Portugale-mail: mbelomoreira@isa.utl.pt