Case Studies

The case studies below are examples of existing work integrating sustainability and nutrition in practice. We share them in the hope that they inspire you in your efforts to apply sustainability to dietetic practice and enable peer-to-peer learning around practical challenges and successes. We hope that they help contextualize the application of sustainability through regionally- and culturally-relevant examples.

Each case study shares the story of a particular initiative, program, document or organization from various parts of the world, highlighting key learnings and takeaways. Contact information for organizations or people are included in each case—please use this to initiate direct contact, discuss specific issues and opportunities, and deepen your learning.

ICDA members who participated in the Delphi-inquiry research (that provided the foundation for this toolkit) identified specific barriers that Dietitians-Nutritionists face in integrating sustainability.

Each case study is tagged to indicate which of these specific barriers the example addresses to help you identify cases that are most relevant to your particular situation.

  1. Profits as priority
  2. Food safety
  3. Different trends between regions: industrialized, capitalist systems versus lack of infrastructure, processing, and storage
  4. Food prices
  5. Environmental degradation
  6. Professional culture and change, and
  7. Finding common ground.

NeverEndingFood Permaculture (Malawi, 2023)

Using a Permaculture Approach to Nutrition and Community Wellness in Malawi

May 2024

Community
EducationProgramming
Environmental DegradationFood PricesIndustrialized, Capitalist Systems

Sustainable Collaboration: University College Dublin and Airfield Estate, Dublin, Ireland (2024)

May 2024

AgricultureCommunityDietetic Educator
EducationResearch
Environmental DegradationIndustrialized, Capitalist Systems

German example on integrating sustainability in dietetic courses (2024)

May 2024

Dietetic Educator
EducationResearch
Lack of Support in the Professional Culture

Addressing Food Waste at University College Dublin, Ireland (2023 Sep)

May 2024

AdministrationDietetic EducatorFoodservice
Education
Lack of InfrastructureLack of Support in the Professional Culture

Red-Listed Seafood (2023 Aug)

Removing Red-Listed Seafood in Acadia University's Wheelock Dining Hall

May 2024

AdministrationDietetic EducatorFoodservice
EducationMenu ChangePolicy Change
Industrialized, Capitalist SystemsLack of InfrastructureLack of Support in the Professional Culture

Recovering Drug Addictions and Nutrition (Germany, 2021)

Reducing Food Waste by Utilizing "Imperfect" Produce Through Distributors in Germany

May 2024

CommunityPublic Health
Menu ChangePolicy ChangeProgramming
Food PricesProfits as Priority

Gardening & Nutrition Education in a Speech & Hearing Impaired School- Chennai India

Supporting Food Sovereignty Through Nutrition Education of the Speech & Hearing Impaired

May 2024

CommunityPublic Health
EducationProgramming
Lack of Infrastructure

Food Sustainability and Nutrition in Violence Prevention (Jamaica, 2021)

Supporting Food Security and Sustainability in Jamaican Youth Violence Prevention

May 2024

CommunityFoodservicePublic Health
Menu ChangePolicy ChangeProgramming
Food PricesLack of Support in the Professional Culture

SecondBite (Austrailia)

Using Surplus Food as an Opportunity to Reduce Hunger and Waste

May 2024

CommunityFoodservicePublic Health
Policy ChangeProgramming
Food PricesFood Safety

Responding to Crisis in South African Township: Community innovation for nutritious food in the time of COVID-19

Creating opportunity to impact food security during a pandemic in a South African township

May 2024

CommunityFoodservicePublic Health
Menu ChangePolicy ChangeProgramming
Food SafetyLack of InfrastructureLack of Support in the Professional Culture

SFS Education in Nutrition & Dietetics degrees: Global Case Studies (2023.07)

International Dietetic educators integrating sustainability into their curricula.

May 2024

Dietetic Educator
Education
Finding Common GroundLack of Support in the Professional Culture

Reviving Traditional Grain Production and Consumption (India)

Opportunities to integrate sustainability, health and rural economic development in India

May 2024

CommunityFoodserviceNutrition carePublic Health
Menu ChangePolicy Change
Food PricesFood SafetyLack of Infrastructure

Small Producer’s Symbol (SPP)

Incorporating Social Sustainability and the Role of Certifications

May 2024

Dietetic EducatorFoodservice
Menu ChangePolicy Change
Food PricesIndustrialized, Capitalist Systems

National School Lunch Program (Japan)

Building Skills and Habits for Healthy and Sustainable Eating in Childhood in Japan

May 2024

AdministrationCommunityPublic Health
Policy ChangeProgramming
Finding Common GroundFood Prices

Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population (2014, 2019)

Integrating Sustainability, Traditional Diets, and Cultural Wisdom into National Dietary Guidelines

May 2024

CommunityFoodservicePublic Health
Policy Change
Industrialized, Capitalist SystemsProfits as Priority
Feedback? Questions? Ideas? Contact the ICDA SFS Coordinator:  ICDAsfs.coordinator@acadiau.ca