Author: Janice Man
Contributors: Sumantra Ray & Matheus Abrantes
Acknowledgements: Sarah Anderson, Sucheta Mitra, Speakers & Moderators
Pre-Summit – Democratising & Decolonising Food and Nutrition: From Science to Society
On July 1st, Ulster University's Belfast Campus hosted a hybrid pre-summit workshop and roundtable discussion, both in-person and online. This event served as a prelude to the main Summit scheduled for December 17-20, 2024, in Kolkata, India. The pre-summit event emphasised global collaboration, highlighting the importance of "Democratising" and "Decolonising" the food and nutrition landscape.
"Democratising" aims to broaden the dialogue, integrating diverse perspectives and bridging the gap between traditional knowledge systems and contemporary scientific research. This approach ensures that every voice is included, acknowledged, and addressed. "Decolonising" focuses on examining the historical influences of specific regions and institutions on research, education, policy development, and clinical guidelines, striving to respect and incorporate contributions from all stakeholders, particularly from historically underrepresented areas and communities.
The Summit will prioritise integrating traditional, indigenous, and local food practices with global nutrition science, especially from middle-income countries. By doing so, it aims to address disparities and enrich our understanding of food and nutrition. The Summit's four pillars—research, education, practice, and policy—will guide discussions, helping to uncover strategies for a more inclusive and equitable approach to food and nutrition.
Key Presentations and Discussions
At our pre-summit event, several notable presentations took place:
Professor Clare Wall from the University of Auckland presented on 'Decolonising the Health/Nutrition Curriculum – an Aotearoa (New Zealand) Perspective'. She provided insights into the Treaty of Waitangi, its historical significance, and its current relevance in New Zealand. Professor Wall highlighted the Waipapa Taumata Rau courses, emphasising their focus on understanding knowledge systems and incorporating Māori-focused curriculum content. These courses support students' transition to university by building skills and fostering cohort cohesion.
Josephine Murphy (née French), a BSc Dietetics undergraduate at Ulster University Coleraine, presented on the 'Transferability of the Mobile Teaching Kitchen to Northern Ireland'. Her presentation highlighted four key themes: the desire for greater nutritional education and understanding, the inclusion of men in the initiative, the influence of social media on food habits, and the decline of food identity in Northern Ireland.
Nicolas Shaw and Sophia Johnston from Food Untethered discussed the evolving landscape of enteral nutrition. They highlighted the increasing use of temporary NG tubes and the shift towards personalised care with blended diets, emphasising ingredients that enhance nutrition and support gut health. They shared professionals' perspectives on pre-made blended food products for enteral feeds, reflecting ongoing advancements and challenges in the field.
Roshni Kumar from University College London presented ‘The Impact of Nutrition Education Interventions in India and Kenya: A Food Democracy Perspective’ at our pre-summit event. The study utilised the DESIGN procedure and a deliberative food democracy approach to analyse various nutrition education interventions. Key findings from the scoping review included significant impacts observed in 23 out of 33 interventions across Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) surveys. The study also highlighted the lack of a specific correlation between intervention impact and food democracy approaches, offering valuable insights for future policy and practice.
NNEdPro's Regional Networks' commentaries were also shared, with representatives from all 10 networks discussing priorities for democratising and decolonising nutrition security in their areas. These discussions will shape the agenda for the main summit event in Kolkata.
Announcements and Partnerships
At the Pre-Summit event, we announced a partnership with CABI Publishing. Ramya Rajaram, Academic Officer at NNEdPro Global Institute, presented special issues jointly produced by NNEdPro and CABI on the Mobile Teaching Kitchen (MTK), Cardiovascular Health, and Nutrition Education. These publications are essential resources for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers interested in advancing nutrition education and community health. They highlight our collaborative efforts to enhance the evidence base in food and nutrition science for human health.
Jorgen Johnsen from Ulster University and the World Health Organization presented on 'Democratising and Decolonising Food and Nutrition Systems to Tackle the Double Burden of Malnutrition'. His presentation underscored the importance of integrating diverse perspectives and traditional knowledge to address malnutrition globally.
We would like to give many thanks to all the Pre-Summit speakers, including:
Prof Martin Kohlmeier University of North Carolina l BMJ NPH
Prof Clare Wall University of Auckland
Dr Kathy Martyn University of Brighton l BMJ NPH
Prof Pauline Douglas (Co-Chair) Ulster University l Lord Rana Foundation Colleges
Prof Sumantra Ray (Co-Chair) Ulster University l University of Cambridge l Imperial College London l BMJ NPH
Sarah Armes NNEdPro Global Institute
Mini Masterclass in Medical and Health Systems Nutrition Education
On July 3rd, Ulster University Belfast hosted a mini masterclass celebrating the release of the book Essentials of Nutrition in Medicine and Healthcare. Intended for students, doctors, and healthcare professionals, the book aims to incorporate nutrition principles effectively into medical practice.
The masterclass featured discussions on various topics, including:
- Over 15 years of insights and innovation in medical nutrition education by Prof Sumantra Ray
- "From Field to Fork" featuring voices from health and social care by Dr Kathy Martyn
- An update on hydration education by Prof Pauline Douglas
- Scaling up medical nutrition education by Prof Martin Kohlmeier
- Implementing nutrition curricula in medical education in ANZ by Prof Clare Wall
- Interdisciplinary learning through the NNEdPro-IANE Summer School and Essentials of Nutrition by Sarah Armes
Nutrition Society Congress
NNEdPro recently exhibited at the Nutrition Society Congress, held from July 2nd to 5th in Belfast. The core programme, delivered by the Irish Section of the Nutrition Society and supported by the Science Committee, focused on 'New Data—Focused Approaches and Challenges'.
Topic of the Congress
Nutrition science is inherently diverse. It covers human health from the molecular level to public health, examining individual nutrients' roles in a sustainable global food system. This congress offered an overview of the diverse data collected and utilised within nutrition science and explored how data analysis can advance the discipline.
Overall, the events in Belfast provided a robust platform for discussions and collaborations, setting the stage for the main Summit in Kolkata, which aims to further the cause of democratising and decolonising food and nutrition systems worldwide.
Learn more about the Summit and register here.
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