The ICDA hosted two key sessions on SFS in Dietetics Education, which are summarized below: one in-person event in 2023 in Ireland and an online webinar in 2025.
Webinar: Teaching Sustainable Food Systems with Dietetics & Nutrition Students (2025 Dec 3 & 5)
This webinar shared recent research and discussed curriculum, pedagogy, and support structures for Sustainable Food Systems in higher education nutrition and dietetics programs. The same webinar was held twice, aiming to reach across time zones.
Use this link to access the recording, presentations, and the resources shared in the chat.
Event outline:
– Welcome
– Presentation 1 – What Should Be Taught?
– Presentation 2 – How to Teach These Topics
– Presentation 3 – Structural Supports
– Discussion
– Synthesis & Closing
SPEAKERS:
- Sarah Burkhart, PhD, University of the Sunshine Coast, Associate Professor, Nutrition & Dietetics School of Health & Deputy Director, Research & Policy, Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research
- Judith Maher, PhD, University of the Sunshine Coast, Senior Lecturer, Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Member, Centre for Bioinnovation
- Liza Barbour, PhD, Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, Monash University, Senior Lecturer – Food Systems, Planetary Health & Public Health Nutrition, Education Fellow Planetary Health
- Jessica Wegener, PhD, RD, Toronto Metropolitan University, Associate Professor, School of Nutrition, Associate Director, Centre for Studies in Food Security
HOSTS:
- Liesel Carlsson, PhD, RD, Acadia University, Associate Professor & Interim Director, School of Nutrition and Dietetics (Webinar Moderator)
- Stacia Nordin, MA, RD, Sustainable Food Systems Toolkit Coordinator, International Confederation of Dietetics Associations (Webinar Support)
🌍 Global Networking Event on Sustainable Food Systems in Nutrition & Dietetics Education (2023 Jun 7-8)
The 🌍 Global Networking Event on SFS in Nutrition & Dietetics Education was held at University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland 🇮🇪 from 7–8 June 2023. The primary aim of the event was to build partnerships for developing excellence in SFS education within nutrition and dietetics programmes internationally.
The event had over 50 participants from 11 countries including educators, trainers, nutrition & dietetics associations & others involved in education/ training/ professional development. We learned about innovative initiatives, shared experiences and practices, and built relationships for future collaborations and education. The 2-day programme was held at UCD with a field trip and event dinner at Airfield Farm Estate.
Outcomes and recommendations from roundtable discussions were broad and pointed to the need for ongoing sharing and collaboration for SFS definitions, curriculum frameworks to guide content and assessment, interdisciplinary teaching and learning, baseline competencies in SFS for dietetic graduates, and opportunities for practical SFS training.
It is anticipated that the outcomes of the June 2023 event will stimulate further discussion on SFS in dietetics and lead to educational resources and supports co-developed between now and 2028 when the International Congress of Nutrition and Dietetics will be hosted in Ireland.
- For a full description of the event including profiles of the speakers and organizers and other details, visit the UCD event page.
- Read a summary of the event in the ICDA newsletter.
- The event report is available here along with speakers’ slides, photos, and resources shared by the participants.
- 👇 Below are 2 infographics summarising key messages for Educators and Dietetic Associations based on our article in the British Dietetic Association’s Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.
Transparency | Diversity | Dynamism | Evidence-based |