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HEAL Food Alliance (website)

The Health, Environment, Agriculture, and Labor (HEAL) Food Alliance was born out of the understanding that no single individual, organization, or sector can transform food and farm systems in isolation. HEAL Food Alliance believes that true transformation requires diverse skills, roles, resources, and collective organizing for real and lasting change.

Today, HEAL is a national, multi-sector, multi-racial coalition of 55 member organizations that collectively represent more than 2 million people — including rural and urban farmers, ranchers, fishers, farm and food chain workers, Indigenous groups, scientists, public health advocates, policy experts, community organizers, and activists.

Together, these members are building a powerful movement to transform food and farm systems away from extractive economic models and toward community control, care for the land, thriving local economies, dignified labor, and healthy communities nationwide. In doing so, HEAL advances the sovereignty and well-being of all living beings.

HEAL’s mission is to build collective power to create food and farm systems that are healthy for families, accessible and affordable for all communities, and fair to the working people who grow, distribute, prepare, and serve food — while protecting the air, water, and land on which everyone depends.

HEAL’s vision is that all people and all communities have the right and the means to produce, procure, prepare, share, and eat food that is both nutritionally and culturally appropriate, free from exploitation of themselves or others, and aligned with a harmonious relationship with the rest of the natural world.

HEAL’s 10-Point Platform for Real Food expresses the belief that food is humanity’s most intimate and powerful connection to one another, to culture, and to the earth. To transform the food system is to take a powerful step toward healing bodies, economies, and the environment.

Crafted by HEAL members, the Platform serves as both a call to action and a political compass for transformation. The 10-Point Platform represents the bedrock of HEAL’s principles and the policy goals it actively pursues. It is a roadmap — a shared path toward a future that truly nourishes health, economies, and the environment.

For more details, you can download the whole document on their website.

Economy

1 – Dignity for Food Workers

2 – Opportunity for All Producers

3 – Fair & Competitive Markets

4 – Resilient Regional Economies

Health

5 – Dump the junk

6 – Increase Food Literacy & Transparency

7 – Real Food in Every Hood

Environment

8 – Phase Out Factory Farming

9 – Promote Sustainable Farming, Fishing, & Ranching

10 – Close the Loop on Waste, Runoff, & Energy

updated 2026 January

Sustainable food systems education in nutrition and dietetics: an appraisal of the tertiary landscape in multiple countries (2025)

Wegener J, Carlsson L, Barbour L, Everitt T, Pettinger C, Reguant-Closa A, Meyer N, Svette S, Hassan D, Platnar J (2025), “Sustainable food systems education in nutrition and dietetics: an appraisal of the tertiary landscape in multiple countries”. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 26 No. 3 pp. 558–574, doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-09-2023-0449 (Pay Wall)

Purpose
Despite a growing awareness of the gap between professional expectations and competence, there has been no comprehensive appraisal of sustainable food systems (SFS) education within dietetics and nutrition programs to date. Dietitians and nutritionists play important roles in promoting sustainability yet many perceive themselves to be inadequately trained. The purpose of this study was to explore how, and to what degree, SFS education is incorporated into accredited nutrition and dietetics programs in the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.

**V. Supplementary Figure 3: Word Cloud of Courses Identified with Full SFS Content Integration in the United Kingdom/Ireland, Australia, and Canada (top 150 words)**
*Source: Authors’ own creation/work*

Design/methodology/approach
A content analysis of course descriptions from program websites was conducted between 2021 and 2022. Courses were reviewed, analyzed and evaluated using a novel sustainability metric.

Findings
SFS is integrated into the education environment of some, but not all, dietetics and nutrition programs to varying degrees (no, partial and full). Partial and full integration was present in a small percentage of courses, with a larger percentage in nutrition programs. SFS education was offered more often through a single unit than a dedicated course. Twelve best practice examples of courses dedicated to SFS were identified. In the UK, their focus was nutrition and diet, contrasting food and food systems in Australia and Canada.

Originality/value
These findings provide insight into SFS education for professional societies, instructors and program directors. Through intentional curricular design considerations supported by this study, program leads can take small conscious reorganizational steps to integrate SFS. This study offers a sound methodology to initiate and benchmark further assessment and a novel approach for other professions looking to equip their future workforce through SFS education.

Sustainability in Canadian Dietetic Practice (2025)

*From the article: Figure 1 Canadian Dietitians’ Contributions to Sustainable Food Systems (SFS).*

Purpose: Dietitians (RDs) are well-positioned to drive food system transformation by supporting dietary patterns sourced from sustainable food systems (SFS). This research aims to identify how RDs conceptualize sustainability, describe SFS activities, define success, and determine the knowledge and skills required to practice in this area.
Methods: A convenience sample of Canadian RDs completed a cross-sectional survey with open- and close-ended questions. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative responses were thematically analyzed. Practice activities were mapped using the Socioecological Framework (SEF).
Results: A diverse sample (n = 92) reported using common SFS definitions, frameworks, or other documents. Practice activities were reported on all levels of the SEF. Dietitians reported successes; however, the vagueness or responses suggested it may be too early to quantify these. Dietitians reported needing foundational and practice area-specific knowledge and skills and practical examples to support SFS in practice.
Conclusions: Canadian RDs in this study demonstrated significant work in SFS using skills they developed to practice in other areas of dietetics. There is an opportunity to expand impact by sharing existing resources, developing new supports that include Indigenous perspectives and systems thinking, evolving RD roles, increasing macro-level strategies, and identifying success indicators to monitor impact.

Citation: Tracy Everitt RD, PhD, Liesel Carlsson RD, PhD, and Jessica Wegener RD, PhD. Sustainability in Canadian Dietetic Practice. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research. e-First https://doi.org/10.3148/cjdpr-2025-022 (also in French)

Food is Medicine: USA Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP)(website)

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), established in 1976, helps Americans lead healthier lives by setting national priorities for disease prevention and health promotion. As part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it translates scientific evidence into policies, guidance, and tools while promoting health literacy and equitable access to clear information. ODPHP develops nutrition and physical activity guidelines and partners with federal agencies, organizations, and communities to advance innovative nutrition solutions for overall well-being.

A key focus is the Food Is Medicine (FIM) initiative, which integrates access to nutritious food with human services, education, and policy change through partnerships at the nexus of health care and community. The Food Is Medicine Initiative aims to reduce nutrition-related chronic diseases and food insecurity by implementing a coordinated federal strategy that ensures consistent access to diet- and nutrition-related resources. This strategy encompasses research, programmatic investments, and the promotion of effective FIM intervention models across the country.

ODPHP emphasizes listening to communities and working with diverse implementation partners to identify challenges and opportunities in advancing Food Is Medicine. Its efforts include:
– Centralizing information on federal, state, and local Food Is Medicine programs, policies, and regulations
– Developing a standardized analytic framework to measure the impact of FIM interventions
– Providing practical resources and real-world case examples to support communities in designing sustainable FIM pilots and programs
– Facilitating knowledge sharing and identifying opportunities for further federal action to strengthen the Food Is Medicine ecosystem

Promoting Sustainability Through Regenerative Approaches

Food Is Medicine models support sustainable food systems by fostering partnerships between community organizations and local farmers. These approaches prioritize culturally respectful, locally grown nutritious foods that promote farm sustainability and reduce environmental impact. By aligning health, community, and economic objectives, the Food Is Medicine Initiative advances regenerative models that enhance social and environmental sustainability for current and future generations.

Nutritionists engaged in building sustainable food systems will find the Food Is Medicine Initiative a valuable resource offering tools, frameworks, and collaborations to develop equitable nutrition interventions that benefit both people and the planet.

The ODPHP FIM virtual toolkit will be updated regularly with new tools and resources as the initiative evolves, supporting collective action toward healthier, more resilient communities through the transformative power of food.

Questions? Ideas? Feedback? Contact: ICDAsfs.coordinator@acadiau.ca

The ICDA SFS Toolkit is made to be used & shared freely.
Please cite the authors of the resources you use, and the ICDA SFS Toolkit if you are able:
InternationalDietetics.org/Sustainability

updated 2025 Aug

Nourish Leadership in Health Care (website)

Nourish fosters the transition toward health care systems that are more preventative, equitable, and sustainable. Nourish works with health care organizations, communities, and policy-makers throughout Canada to improve food in health care—one hospital tray at a time. Nourish is changing the way food is served in health care settings — not just for the well-being of the patients, but for the people caring for them; for growers and food producers; for communities; and for the planet we all share.

Guide to Best Practices and Green Criteria for Low-Carbon Food Procurement (March 2025) – Nourish developed this resource as recommendations and advice to address the needs expressed by the Buyers for Climate Action (BCA), a coalition of leading green public buyers, to enable more low-carbon food procurement. The guide outlines key strategies for advancing low-carbon food procurement, which is imperative for the transition to net zero. These practices are gaining momentum in health care and on campuses across the country. Best practices and green criteria are detailed in this guide and can support greater low-carbon food procurement by the public sector and the greening of government operations.

The free “Food is Our Medicine online Action Learning series” is designed to introduce Canada’s health care professionals and leaders to new and different ways of understanding the complex relationships between Indigenous foodways, reconciliation, healing, and health care. You will have opportunities to learn and reflect on (de)colonization, the perspectives, cultures, and foodways of various Indigenous communities, and steps you can take toward honouring Indigenous worldviews in health care. Participation is free, you complete it at your own pace, and the entire course takes approximately 15 hours.

Global Roots (website)

Global Roots promotes regenerative, equitable, and nutritious plant-based food systems by modeling agricultural conservation projects, partnering with organizations around the world to implement whole systems change, and providing on-the-ground education programs. They are based in the USA* and the Dominican Republic** in partnership with the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and are exploring other expansion areas. By recognizing the overlap between nutrition for personal and planetary health, we can drastically improve global health standards while simultaneously reducing agricultural land use requirements paving the way for increased conservation.

Objectives:

Expand the practice of agriculture as a form of conservation, life-enhancement, and regeneration to areas around the world.
Provide education opportunities on how to transition consolidated, top-down food systems to community-owned land trusts and regenerative land practices.
Demonstrate through model programs how transitioning inefficiently used farmland from speculative markets to locally-owned land initiatives increases healthy food options, employment opportunities, and resilient communities of health.
Increase peer-to-peer networking and coalition building through the Whole-Communities platform.
Provide technical support to promote regenerative, equitable, and nutritious plant-based food systems.

* The Brightside Farm and Nursery in the USA is the home of Global Roots. The farm is located outside of Chapel Hill, North Carolina in growing zone 8a and covers an area of 2.5 acres hosting the nursery, mixed vegetable production, and orchard. Operations of the farm and nursery are governed by the Global Roots staff and board of directors.

** The RAICES Institute education center is located in the Dominican Republic in the province of Las Hermanas Mirabal, north of Salcedo in the village of La Cumbre. The center is owned and operated by RAICES Global with program support from Global Roots and the T. Colin Campbell center for Nutrition Studies. The center hosts education programs and aims to establish plant-based communal food hubs.

2025 January

Justice on the Menu: Legal & Policy Strategies to Address Structural Discrimination in the US Food System (2024 Oct)

ChangeLab Solutions. Justice on the Menu: Legal & Policy Strategies to Address Structural Discrimination in the US Food System. 2024. https://www.changelabsolutions.org/product/justice-menu

Food is a basic human necessity, and access to nutritious food is essential to people’s health and well-being. However, racial injustice and oppression embedded in the US food system cause economic, environmental, and health harms for many Americans — from farmers, producers, and distributors to restaurant workers, food retailers, and consumers.

The ideas and guidance in this resource aim to foster new conversations, advocacy efforts, partnerships, and research to advance racial justice in our food system. To aid changemakers who wish to center racial equity in food systems research, policy, and action, Justice on the Menu offers the following information and tools:

Introduction & Key Concepts: Background information on the history of racism across many dimensions of US food systems, resulting in land loss for BIPOC communities; low pay and poor working conditions for farm and food workers; and unjust racial and ethnic disparities in rates of hunger, food insecurity, and diet-related diseases
Policy Menus: state and local policy options that can be implemented to advance health and racial justice through the food system
Community Spotlights: stories describing how communities are putting policies into action
Practical & Legal Considerations: notes for changemakers working at the powerful nexus of food justice, health justice, and racial justice, to inform their community partnerships and help them navigate various legal landscapes

The report can be downloaded in full or in individual sections or fact sheets to meet specific needs.

“No single policy pursued in isolation can dismantle structural racism or make transformational change in the food system. Changemakers who use this resource should consider individual policy options as “bricks in a brick wall” — meaning that over time, and when connected to broader social justice movements, they can be part of the pathway toward more transformational change.

Deliberate, racism-conscious legal and policy interventions can help to codify and institutionalize ideas and values that emerge from these movements to drive long-term food justice and racial justice. Legal and policy strategies can address the distribution of money, power, opportunities, and resources and undo fundamental drivers of inequity, including structural discrimination, which is the preeminent driver of inequity.

Efforts to address historical and ongoing harms and advance food justice, health justice, and racial justice would be incomplete without law and policy changes.”

Center for Ecoliteracy (website)

The Center for Ecoliteracy in California, USA, advances the teaching and modeling of sustainable practices in K–12 schools. We build partnerships and the capacity of K–12 schools to support healthy, sustainable school communities and food systems change in schools. The Center for Ecoliteracy leads systems change initiatives, publishes original books and resources, facilitates conferences and professional development, and provides strategic consulting. We work at multiple levels of scale, with local, regional, state, and national programs.

Our California Food for California Kids® initiative builds the capacity of public school districts to provide students with fresh, locally-grown food and reinforce connections between the classroom, cafeteria, and garden. With a network of over 100 public school districts across the state, California Food for California Kids advances practical solutions that transform school food systems and how students learn about the food they eat.

In 2021, the Center for Ecoliteracy successfully advocated for California to become the first state to adopt universal school meals as a co-sponsor of the Free School Meals for All Act and a core member of the School Meals for All coalition. We are proud to be part of California’s leadership in transforming school food and recognizing the important role of school nutrition professionals.

updated 2025 May

Determining Health: Food systems issue brief (2024)

This issue brief explores the connections between food systems and human health and well-being in the Canadian context, as part of the Determining Health series of the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health. It is also available in French. This issue brief is intended for public health practitioners, decision-makers, researchers, and students looking to learn about the public health relevance of (industrial) food systems and the urgent need for their transformation.

The resource is divided into four sections:

Section 1 introduces food systems and their major components, defining food systems as the “webs of activities, people, institutions and processes that bring food from the fields, forests and waters to our plates, and beyond”.
Section 2 explains why food systems matter for public health policy and practice. It describes their importance for meeting populations’ nutritional needs and highlights key issues with Canada’s industrial food systems, the dominant type of food system in the country.
Section 3 draws on peer-reviewed and grey literature from 42 sources to explain five pathways linking industrial food systems to health inequities.
Section 4 concludes the document and underscores that all public health practitioners and organizations have a role in helping build healthier, more sustainable and just food systems.

Use this resource to

Build understanding of food systems and their major components
Facilitate discussion on how industrial food systems contribute to health inequities in the Canadian context
Support food system-related public health interventions

CASCADES (Creating a Sustainable Canadian Health System in a Climate Crisis)

CASCADES’ vision is a pan-Canadian health system that supports a healthy planet, is caring and equitable, and serves communities so that they thrive. Their work supports the Canadian healthcare community in making this vision a reality. CASCADES strengthens the capacity of the healthcare community across Canada to transition towards, high-quality, low-carbon, sustainable and climate-resilient care through:

Resources to fill the implementation gap. We leverage community expertise to build robust implementation resources.
Training to strengthen the capacity for change. We deliver training through a range of courses and events.
Collaboration to foster pan-Canadian coordination. We work with interested parties across the country with a view to pan-Canadian exchange and coordination.

Across Canada, teams are testing and refining evidence-informed change ideas. CASCADES work alongside these innovators to equip and empower a broader community of early adopters. CASCADES also work with partners across Canada to embed validated change ideas within health system guidance, policy, regulation, and institutional structures.

They work with and learn from many other organizations and individuals across the country. CASCADES is funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada and is an initiative of four founding partners: the University of Toronto Collaborative Centre for Climate, Health & Sustainable Care, the Healthy Populations Institute at Dalhousie University, the Planetary Healthcare Lab at the University of British Columbia, and the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care. In Quebec, CASCADES is a partner in the Réseau d’action pour la santé durable du Québec.

Key collaborations:

The Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL) and CASCADES are partnering to offer health leaders in Canada a new avenue to leverage, build knowledge, skills and networks across Canada’s healthcare community to promote and deliver sustainable health systems.
Through the Health Leadership Specialty in Sustainable Health Systems, Canadian health leaders will undertake the FREE Fundamentals of Sustainable Health Systems course and one of the advanced courses. Participants will apply their learning in their workplace and write a paper on the impact and experience of knowledge translation. The paper is reviewed by a panel of three CCHL Fellowship Evaluators, who may award the Health Leadership Specialty in Sustainable Health Systems.
Healthcar eLCA constitutes the first global living database of healthcare-related environmental impact assessments. The HealthcareLCA database is designed to support the transition to sustainable, low-carbon health systems, providing an open-access, interactive, and up-to-date evidence resource for healthcare workers, sustainability researchers, and policymakers. The collaboration between CASCADES and HealthcareLCA aims at supporting regular updates of the database and its availability as an open access resource.