Authors – Ankita Ghosh, Asim Kumar Manna, Debashis Chakraborty
Reviewed and edited by – Sarah Anderson, Ramya Rajaram, Sucheta Mitra, Sumantra Ray
The NNEdPro-IANE 10th International Summit on Food, Nutrition & Health, held from 17th to 20th December 2024 in Kolkata, India, was a landmark event underlining the global dialogue on food systems, health, and social justice.
The Summit’s theme, “Democratising and Decolonising Food and Nutrition: From Science to Society,” illuminated the urgent need for equity, sustainability, and inclusivity in addressing the world’s nutrition challenges. The topic reflected the need to rethink and reshape global food and nutrition systems. Currently, food systems, agricultural practices, and nutrition science are highly influenced by external perspectives, leading to the loss of traditional foods.
The 10th International Summit was more than just a conference; it was a summative call to action, bringing together the cumulative insights of a decade in this Summit series. It brought together experts, activists, policymakers, and passionate advocates worldwide to focus on making food systems, as well as access to nutrition and health, more equitable and sustainable. A series of deliberations through plenary sessions, workshops, panel discussions, and interactive forums laid the foundation for future changes in nutrition, health, and global food policy.
DAY 1: 17TH DECEMBER
Day one's programme began at 14:00 IST, with registration opening an hour earlier to allow early access to the auditorium. The opening remarks by the Summit’s co-chairs, Professor Sumantra Ray and Professor Pauline Douglas, set the stage for in-depth conversations about food policies and practices, with key insights shared by experts from diverse fields.
After that, the day was packed with five insightful tracks, beginning with the Sanchita Banerjee Memorial Track, which addressed global food insecurity.
Food sovereignty, public health nutrition, decolonising nutrition practices, and incorporating Indigenous knowledge into contemporary food systems were among the topics explored in panel discussions.
Discussions also explored structural disparities in food systems and solutions for tackling nutrition issues in underserved communities, featuring experts from various disciplines.
The cultural interlude, featuring an Indian evening tea, provided networking opportunities. After the evening tea break, the importance of international collaboration in addressing nutrition-related challenges was highlighted.
The day concluded with the symbolic lighting of the 'Lamp of Learning' and a cultural performance by the Calcutta Youth Choir and guest performers, reinforcing the Summit’s spirit of collaboration and shared learning.
DAY 2 and DAY 3: 18TH DECEMBER and 19TH DECEMBER
On the second and third days of the seminar, the programme commenced at 09:00 IST, with the registration desk opening at 08:00 IST. Each day featured an immersive schedule structured into five parallel tracks running across multiple seminar halls:
Clinical Nutrition – Explored advancements in personalised nutrition, therapeutic dietary interventions, and the integration of clinical nutrition into healthcare systems.
Public Health Nutrition – Addressed nutrition equity, food security, public health policies, and the impact of social determinants on dietary health outcomes.
Nutrition Education Track – Presented in partnership with the Society for Nutrition Education & Behavior (SNEB), this track explored innovative strategies for advancing nutrition education and behaviour change.
Indigenous Populations and Planetary Health – In collaboration with Smily Academy, this track highlighted the intersection of Indigenous knowledge, environmental sustainability, and women’s leadership in food sovereignty movements.
Flagship Symposium Track – Food Systems, Sustainability & Global Nutrition Challenges: This afternoon session focused on pressing global issues in food security, sustainable nutrition practices, and policy-driven solutions for resilient food systems.
Each track was co-chaired by two experts, with a keynote speaker delivering an address specific to the session's theme. Following the keynote, two to three panellists engaged in a discussion alongside the keynote speaker, offering a deeper analysis of key themes and emerging insights. A dedicated facilitator moderated every session to ensure structured and meaningful discussions.
In addition to the main tracks, the seminar featured an abstract and Mini Learning Zone competition, held in the lobby of the seminar hall. Poster presentations of cutting-edge nutrition and public health research were judged from 09:00 to 11:00 IST. The morning tracks concluded at 12:45 IST, followed by a one-hour lunch break, offering participants valuable networking opportunities with fellow delegates.
After the lunch break, sessions continued in the mini auditorium from 14:00 to 18:00 IST. The afternoon session had four different tracks and ended with a panel discussion to recap the day's proceedings. The session started with a recap of the key points of the morning session, which the morning co-chairs shared. Each track was allocated 45 minutes and moderated by a designated individual. Every track featured a keynote speaker, followed by a panel discussion. Judging for the Mini Learning Zone took place in parallel after lunch.
DAY 4: 20th December 2024
The final day's programme started at 09:45 IST and ended at 14:00 IST. Women in Education Leadership were honoured with a symposium and recognition awards ceremony on the last day of the NNEdPro-IANE 10th International Summit. The final day's discussions centred on sustainability, Indigenous knowledge, and nutrition policy, with experts offering culturally sensitive solutions and examining gaps in existing nutrition policies.
Recognition awards were presented to outstanding contributors in education and community work excellence, celebrating their impact in advancing nutrition and health equity. Discussions about transformational leadership and empowering women via the 3Cs—courage, connection, and conversation—concluded the Summit discussions.
The winners of the abstract presentations and mini learning zone poster presentations were also recognised on the stage. The entire four-day programme ended with the recognition of the volunteers and a small gesture towards the organising committee.
Conclusion
The NNEdPro-IANE 10th International Summit on Food, Nutrition, and Health was a thought-provoking and transformative event that gave participants a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationships between sustainability, food systems, nutrition, and health.
With the theme "Democratising and Decolonising Food and Nutrition," the Summit examined how eradicating structural injustices, integrating Indigenous knowledge, and encouraging inclusive, sustainable practices can help address nutritional disparities worldwide. To promote cooperation and collective action, participants in five thematic tracks engaged in lively discussions, workshops, and panel sessions over four unforgettable days. The Summit highlighted the critical role of Indigenous leadership and wisdom, stressing the need to integrate local and global perspectives to tackle the challenges facing food systems today.
The closing sessions summarised the Summit's key takeaways and outlined actionable next steps for shaping the future of food, nutrition, and health. As a direct outcome of the Summit, we have established the Forum on Democratising Food and Nutrition—an action-driven, globally connected hub dedicated to fostering equitable access to knowledge, amplifying underrepresented voices, and reshaping global food systems through informed advocacy and capacity-building. This forum serves as a collaborative space where researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and communities can continue the vital conversations sparked at the Summit and translate insights into meaningful change.
As the Summit drew to a close, it became evident that continued cooperation between all sectors—government, international organisations, Indigenous communities, and others—is necessary to build more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable food systems. With the momentum of the Summit now channelled into this new forum, participants left with a fresh sense of purpose and the means to actively contribute to sustainability and global health efforts.
The full Summit programme can be found here.
View the Photo Gallery.