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.
- Profits as priority
- Food safety
- Different trends between regions: industrialized, capitalist systems versus lack of infrastructure, processing, and storage
- Food prices
- Environmental degradation
- Professional culture and change, and
- Finding common ground.
NeverEndingFood Permaculture (Malawi, 2023)
Using a Permaculture Approach to Nutrition and Community Wellness in Malawi
May 2024
Sustainable Collaboration: University College Dublin and Airfield Estate, Dublin, Ireland (2024)
May 2024
Red-Listed Seafood (2023 Aug)
Removing Red-Listed Seafood in Acadia University's Wheelock Dining Hall
May 2024
Recovering Drug Addictions and Nutrition (Germany, 2021)
Reducing Food Waste by Utilizing "Imperfect" Produce Through Distributors in Germany
May 2024
Gardening & Nutrition Education in a Speech & Hearing Impaired School- Chennai India
Supporting Food Sovereignty Through Nutrition Education of the Speech & Hearing Impaired
May 2024
Food Sustainability and Nutrition in Violence Prevention (Jamaica, 2021)
Supporting Food Security and Sustainability in Jamaican Youth Violence Prevention
May 2024
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
SFS Education in Nutrition & Dietetics degrees: Global Case Studies (2023.07)
International Dietetic educators integrating sustainability into their curricula.
May 2024
Reviving Traditional Grain Production and Consumption (India)
Opportunities to integrate sustainability, health and rural economic development in India
May 2024
Small Producer’s Symbol (SPP)
Incorporating Social Sustainability and the Role of Certifications
May 2024
National School Lunch Program (Japan)
Building Skills and Habits for Healthy and Sustainable Eating in Childhood in Japan
May 2024
Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population (2014, 2019)
Integrating Sustainability, Traditional Diets, and Cultural Wisdom into National Dietary Guidelines
May 2024
Feedback? Questions? Ideas? Contact the ICDA SFS Coordinator: ICDAsfs.coordinator@acadiau.ca