In September 2025, I joined the 4th Conference on Food & Communication in Lille, France. Aiming to to critically explore the diverse roles of media and communication in shaping and advancing food democracy, the conference brought together communication scholars, media researchers, and linguists working on these themes.

I had the chance to present research that I worked on together with my former supervisee Noor Wiersma, where we examined how Dutch politicians talk about food innovation and novel foods. In particular, I discussed the tension between the growing right wing populist rhetoric in the country and the Netherlands’ image as pioneer in agri-food innovation. Sharing this work with an audience that is so passionate about language, narratives, and meaning was both exciting and rewarding.