Author: Janice Man
Editor: Sarah Anderson
The NNEdPro-IANE International Summit on Food, Nutrition and Health is a leading annual scientific meeting. The 2023 Summit (on ‘Sustainable Resourcing for all in Food & Nutrition Security: Creative solutions for healthy & resilient populations’), highlighted the need to consider the inequities that exist within the food and nutrition landscape. This led us to fully explore the theme of ‘Democratising and Decolonising Food and Nutrition: From Science to Society’ in 2024.
The event gathered a wide array of experts from over 78 countries, along with numerous organisations, offering expanded geographical and disciplinary perspectives.
The Summit brought together keynote speakers from across six continents who highlighted the urgent need to dismantle structural inequalities in food systems. They discussed the integration of indigenous knowledge, sustainable practices, and the need for nutrition science to be accessible to all, particularly marginalised communities. The intricate relationship between food, health, and climate was explored, underscoring how inclusive approaches could help address global nutritional disparities.
International Summit Co-Chairs
Professor Pauline Douglas – NNEdPro | Ulster University
Professor Pauline Douglas, one of the Co-Chairs of the Summit, discussed “Taking the Evidence and Translating it into Clinical Practice.” She explored how clinical practices could be aligned with socioeconomic contexts and addressed disparities in nutritional care across populations. With over 30 years of experience in dietetics, Pauline taught Professional Practice for dietetic students at the Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health at Ulster University, alongside Nutrition Education for healthcare professionals.
Professor Sumantra Ray – NNEdPro
Alongside Professor Pauline Douglas, Professor Sumantra Ray served as Co-Chair of the Summit. He set the stage for the exploration of the central theme: ‘Democratising and Decolonising Food and Nutrition: From Science to Society.’ Sumantra is the Founder and Co-Chair of BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health and the Founder and Principal Investigator of the Mobile Teaching Kitchen International Initiative, which operates in India, Mexico, the USA, and the UK. Since 2008, he, along with NNEdPro, has led initiatives focused on integrating nutrition education into medical and health systems across 78 countries through NNEdPro's Regional Networks.
Principal Keynote Speaker: Sanchita Banerjee Memorial Lecture
Dr Shakuntala Thilsted – Director, Nutrition, Health, and Food Security Impact Area Platform (CGIAR)
Dr Shakuntala Thilsted delivered the Sanchita Banerjee Memorial Lecture, diving deep into food systems, sustainability, and global nutrition challenges. She discussed structural inequalities, food sovereignty, and how food could act as a tool for international cooperation. Shakuntala brought decades of expertise to the Summit, having been awarded the 2021 World Food Prize for her transformative work in aquatic food systems. She is also the recipient of the 2021 Arrell Global Food Innovation Award and serves on several influential global panels, including the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the United Nations.
Honorary Joint President of NNEdPro & IANE
Professor Suzanne Piscopo – University of Malta | President, SNEB
Professor Suzanne Piscopo explored “Competency and Collaboration in Nutrition Education for a Healthier People and Planet.” She addressed the challenges and strategies for transdisciplinary collaboration in nutrition education, bringing together nutritionists, social workers, and policymakers. Suzanne, a Senior Faculty member at the University of Malta, is also involved in national community education projects focusing on sustainable living and Mediterranean food systems. She has contributed to the development of Maltese national dietary guidelines and school food policies.
Key Speakers
Dr Prachi Prabhat Pandit – Consultant to Shiv Nadar Foundation
Dr Prachi Pandit led the session on “MoolGyan: Cultivating Health and Sustainability – One Meal at a Time.” She explored the integration of Indigenous knowledge into global food policy, addressing challenges in incorporating these practices into formal agricultural and food policy frameworks. Prachi is deeply committed to reducing health inequalities and improving healthcare access. She led the MoolGyan project at the Shiv Nadar Foundation, a school farm initiative that uses a STEAM approach to foster healthy, sustainable choices in students.
Professor Nitya Rao – University of East Anglia
Professor Nitya Rao presented on “Gender Justice: The Key to Equity, Health and Resilience of Food Systems.” She discussed the role of gender in sustainable agriculture and the leadership challenges within this field. Nitya is a Professor of Gender and Development at the University of East Anglia and the Director of the Norwich Institute for Sustainable Development.
Jaroslav Guzanic – NNEdPro | Swiss Association for Cooperation on Food Education
Jaroslav Guzanic’s presentation, “Linking Traditional Knowledge and Gastronomic
Landscapes to Accelerate Transition of Food Systems,” addressed agroecology and sustainable food systems. He explored how traditional knowledge could be integrated into modern food systems and the challenges associated with this. With over 10 years of experience in hospitality and food education, Jaroslav is co-lead of NNEdPro's Swiss Regional Network, focusing on the intersections of nutrition and public health.
Professor Chim Lang – School of Medicine, University of Dundee
Professor Chim Lang’s session, “When Diets Fail... The Role of GLP1RA and GIP Modulators,” discussed the integration of pharmacological treatments with culturally sensitive dietary practices. Chim, a consultant cardiologist and clinical pharmacologist, shared insights on how healthcare professionals could balance these approaches in clinical settings.
Professor Mei Yen Chan – School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University
Professor Mei Yen Chan focused on “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Food Interventions: Creating the First Central Asia Food Dataset for Delivering Personalised Nutrition Interventions.” She discussed how AI could be used to address intrinsic biases in clinical nutrition practices and the challenges of creating diverse, representative datasets. Mei Yen is a clinical dietitian and PhD holder with expertise in chronic disease management and nutrition education.
Dr Annalisa Terranegra – Investigator, Precision Nutrition, Sidra Medicine
Dr Annalisa Terranegra’s presentation, “The Importance of a Precision Nutrition Approach to Tackle Non-Communicable Diseases in Diverse Populations,” explored the role of precision nutrition in addressing non-communicable diseases across diverse socio-cultural contexts. Annalisa’s expertise lies in molecular medicine and nutritional sciences.
Dr Jeffrie Quarsie – PhD Candidate in Political Science, Queen Mary University of London
Dr Jeffrie Quarsie presented “Decolonising Medical Guidelines: A Case Study on Ethnicity in Renal Medicine”, emphasising the importance of adaptable and culturally sensitive clinical nutrition guidelines. As both a medical doctor and political scientist, Jeffrie’s research delves into neo-colonial practices in Africa, offering a unique interdisciplinary perspective.
Dr Martin Kohlmeier – Editor in Chief, BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health
Dr Martin Kohlmeier addressed the panel theme, “Personalised and Precision Nutrition Beyond Genetics”, focusing on the integration of environmental, cultural, and lifestyle factors within precision nutrition. With expertise in nutritional genetics and education, Martin contributed valuable insights into the evolving field of personalised nutrition.
Other Key Topics and Speakers
The summit featured a diverse lineup of speakers from numerous disciplines, including:
Nutrition and dietetics research
Renal medicine
Artificial intelligence in food innovation
Indigenous Food Sovereignty
Global nutrition
Nutrition and climate change
These discussions sparked profound conversations aimed at rethinking the democratisation and decolonisation of food and nutrition science. As a direct outcome of the Summit, we have established the Forum on Democratising Food and Nutrition—a global, action-driven initiative dedicated to fostering equitable access to knowledge, amplifying underrepresented voices, and reshaping food systems through advocacy and capacity-building.
Interested in learning more about the 10th International Summit on Democratising and Decolonising Food and Nutrition: From Science to Society? Read more here!
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