Reports – Page 2 – Sustainability

Agriculture, Nutrition & Health (ANH) Academy Science-Policy Platform (website)

The Agriculture, Nutrition, and Health Academy Science-Policy Platform brings together researchers, practitioners and policymakers working for better nutrition and health through improved agriculture and food systems.

With over 13,000 members in 160+ countries, the ANH Academy is a global network and platform for sharing research and evidence, capacity strengthening and collaboration across diverse disciplines. The ANH Academy also shares methods and metrics developed through Innovative Methods and Metrics for Agriculture and Nutrition Actions (IMMANA) grants and fellowships.

The aims and objectives of the ANH Academy Science-Policy Platform will be realised by coalescing activities around the central focus of demand-driven generation and uptake of evidence into policy processes. The successful components of the existing IMMANA Phase 2 programme are foundational to this new focus, including:

Competitive Research Grants,
expert-led thematic working groups,
ANH Academy Science-Policy Platform convened events,
leading and supporting original research endeavours,
prioritising actions via evidence syntheses and stakeholder consultations, and
promoting scientific capabilities through Fellowships, the ANH Support Centre for Agriculture and Nutrition Research (SCANR) and its associated mechanisms for capacity sharing and curriculum enrichment.

Entering its third phase in 2025, the ANH Academy is building on its growing interdisciplinary community, directing its efforts towards informing and supporting evidence-based policy change, through expanded partnerships in Africa and South Asia.

As part of this process, it will establish regional collaborative partnerships—Regional Collaboratives—which will drive the use of evidence and knowledge in policy decision making in Africa and South Asia. The institutions involved in these partnerships will be formally integrated into the ANH Academy, co-managing and co-delivering with existing partners.

updated 2026 February

One Planet Network (website)

The One Planet Network’s Global Strategy serves as a key resource for dietitians and nutritionists advancing sustainable food systems, planetary health, and equitable nutrition worldwide. It tackles critical issues like plastic pollution and sugar cane value chains alongside broader sustainability efforts. Key features of the site include:

Multistakeholder coalitions for production-to-consumption solutions.
SDG synergies like ending hunger (SDG 2) and responsible consumption (SDG 12).
Emphasis on waste reduction, resource efficiency, and equitable food policies.

The One Planet Network drives the 10-Year Framework on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP), aligning with UN SDG 12 through multistakeholder programs, notably the Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) Programme. This platform connects governments, businesses, civil society, and experts to transform food production, consumption, nutrition equity, and environmental protection.

Relevance to Nutrition Professionals

The SFS Programme links food security, sustainable diets, and climate resilience, providing tools, case studies (e.g., Pakistan’s food systems transformation), and forums like the 5th Global Conference for policy advocacy and client counseling on planet-friendly eating. Dietitians can integrate these into practice for healthier, low-impact dietary guidance.

Plastic Pollution

The Network targets plastic waste rife in food systems, such as packaging and catering, via SDG 12.5 initiatives for prevention, reuse, recycling, and reducing single-use items, supporting nutritionists in promoting plastic-free supply chains.

Sugar Cane Value Chain

The SFS Programme addresses sugar cane sustainability, covering production challenges, invasive species risks, and ties to healthy diets, aiding professionals in ethical sourcing and reduced environmental impact strategies.

Conference

They convene ocassional SFS conference.

Webinars

See the latest webinars from the One Planet network Sustainable Food Systems Programme. You can register for upcoming webinars, or view the recordings from previous ones. A search on ‘nutrition’ brings up 5 results and for ‘food’ brings up 46 results with Sustainable Seafood in an African Context as one of the many options.

updated 2026 February

Diet for a Green Planet (website)

About Diet for a Green Planet: We have an average of 2000 square meters of arable land per person for our food production. This means that we could live both well and in harmony with nature. Unfortunately, we are not doing so today. We waste food partly by throwing it away, partly by feeding animals with produce that could be food for humans, and we often eat more than what is healthy for us. Through the food concept Diet for a Green Planet, we can change this and eat both healthier and more environmentally friendly.

THE FIVE CRITERIA

Tasty and healthy food

To become popular and have an impact, the food must be well prepared, and well composed. It should also be consistent with the nutritional recommendations.

Organic, preferably from Ecological Regenerative Agriculture (ERA)

Ecological Regenerative Agriculture is a kind ofcircular farming in which the number of animals and the land area are in balance. But because there is no labeling for Ecological Regenerative Agriculture, one can focus on KRAV or EU-organic. If you are able to identify products from Ecological Regenerative Agriculture, this is a plus.

Less animal products, more vegetables, legumes, and whole grains

A rough benchmark is about 10% meat, fish, or eggs of the total ingredients, and dairy products equivalent to max 0.5 liters/person per day (equivalent to 50 grams of cheese). The animals must have been reared under good conditions, and the fish must come from sustainable fishing or sustainable aquaculture. Legumes and other protein-rich seeds are good options when using small amounts of animal products. Choose whole-grain cereal-based products instead of refined ones, as this provides a better feeling of satisfaction, higher nutritional value, and less wastage.

Locally produced in season

Primarily fresh produce from local, regional and national suppliers. Conserved and frozen products, i.e. semi-manufactured foods may be needed as a complement during the part of the year when the supply of local produce is low.

Reduced waste

Minimise wastage both in production, processing, distribution, cooking and from the plate.

Updated 2026 February

United Nations’ Food Systems Coordination Hub (website)

The United Nations’ Food Systems Coordination Hub is the catalyst inside the UN system in relation to #FoodSystems and the 2030 Agenda.

Their vision is to convene, stimulate, and support action for food systems transformations aimed at accelerating progress towards the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Their mission is to serve countries through systemic, country-driven, customized support in translating their commitments into effective actions to reach sustainable food systems by 2030, leveraging the wider UN system’s capacities.

The hub offers several webinars and workshops advertised on their website and social media, and are archived in their Facebook Videos and/or YouTube channel. For upcoming events, visit this page.

Nourish (USA)

Nourish is an educational initiative designed to open a meaningful conversation about food, health, sustainability, and community resilience, with a focus on schools and classrooms. To inform and inspire the largest number of people, Nourish combines Public Broadcasting System (PBS) television, curriculum resources, web content, short films, and professional learning. Their mission is to increase food literacy and build healthy communities.

Nourish is a program of WorldLink, a nonprofit organization with more than 25 years experience in designing media and education programs. To maximize the effectiveness of Nourish, WorldLink is collaborating with 50+ organizations dedicated to creating a sustainable food future. With a distinctly positive vision, Nourish celebrates both food and community.

For dietitians, these tools matter because they bridge nutrition science with systemic issues like industrial agriculture’s environmental toll and barriers to healthy eating in underserved areas. By equipping professionals to teach about regenerative farming, food sovereignty, and policy change, Nourish empowers advocacy for diets that sustain both people and planet amid climate and inequality challenges.

From its dedicated “Teach” section, Nourish provides free, ready-to-use lesson plans, videos, interactive activities, and discussion guides tailored for K-12 educators—but highly relevant for nutritionists and dietitians sharing knowledge with students, clients, or communities. Topics span food justice, local sourcing, soil health, farm-to-table impacts, and equitable access, using engaging films and real-world case studies to connect daily choices to global systems.

The Nourish Curriculum Guide offers a rich set of resources to open a meaningful conversation about food and sustainability. Beautifully designed and brimming with big ideas, the materials contain a viewing guide, seven learning activities, student handouts, a bibliography, and a glossary. The Nourish curriculum and a companion DVD may beused in social studies, science, health, or English classes. Activity themes include The Story of Food; Seasonal, Local Food; Food Traditions; Food and Ecosystems; Analyzing Food Ads; School Lunch Survey; and Action Projects.

Developed in partnership with the Center for Ecoliteracy, the Nourish curriculum aligns with national curriculum standards and benchmarks of the National Council for the Social Studies, National Research Council, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Committee on National Health Education Standards.

updated 2026 February

Food Fairness Illawarra (FFI): Building Equitable Food Systems (Website)

Food Fairness Illawarra (FFI), based in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia, is a community coalition formed in 2005 to advance food security for all residents. Partnering with local councils (Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama), the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, University of Wollongong, and over 1,000 community groups, charities, and businesses, FFI drives collaborative action toward healthy, sustainable, and affordable food access.

FFI focuses on the UN’s four dimensions of food security: availability (vibrant local food economies supporting growers), access (affordable, culturally appropriate nutrition), utilization (community skills for healthy choices), and stability (coordinated coalitions). Their work includes advocacy for urban food planning, education via directories and events like Connecting Over Fair Food, empowerment tools such as field guides, research contributions, and food rescue initiatives—recently highlighted by a PhD scholarship on sustainable, equitable food systems.

For nutritionists and dietitians, FFI’s model is vital as it addresses systemic barriers, like poverty and urban planning that limit nutrient-rich food access, aligning with sustainable diet goals amid rising chronic disease. By fostering local production and policy change, FFI demonstrates scalable strategies for food sovereignty, empowering professionals to integrate community-level advocacy into practice for planetary and public health.

updated 2026 February

Edible Cities Network

EdiCitNet (Edible Cities Network) advances urban agriculture to create sustainable, resilient food systems in cities worldwide, offering nutritionists and dietitians actionable insights into localizing healthy food production.

The network connects cities, communities, and experts to integrate edible landscapes—like rooftop gardens, community plots, and fruit trees—directly into urban planning. Research from paired farm studies highlighted in related soil health work shows regenerative practices (no-till, cover crops) boost soil organic matter by up to double, yielding crops with 14-34% higher vitamins (e.g., K, E, B1, B2) and phytochemicals linked to chronic disease prevention—evidence that urban farming can deliver nutrient-dense produce close to consumers.

For professionals counseling on sustainable diets, EdiCitNet demonstrates how cities foster food security, reduce environmental impacts, and enhance community health through accessible, fresh foods. By bridging soil vitality to plate nutrition, it supports agroecological strategies amid urbanization, empowering dietitians to advocate for city-based solutions in food policy and client education.

updated 2026 February

The Hidden Link: Healthy Soil, Healthy Humans

Jagdish Patel, a former soil scientist turned illustrator and communicator, delves into the science-backed connection between healthy soil and human health in his article, “The Hidden Link: Healthy Soil, Healthy Humans.”

We directly relate our own health to the food we eat, yet Patel notes we often overlook the soil from which that food springs—revealing an undeniable and profound connection between healthy soil and healthy human beings. Drawing on peer-reviewed research, he illustrates how the soil food web—a microbial ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and fauna—drives nutrient cycling, pathogen suppression, and plant nutrition, directly influencing food nutrient density.

Patel references studies like Hirt (2020) on “Healthy soils for healthy plants for healthy humans,” which highlight microbial similarities between soil, plant roots, and the human gut microbiome, alongside National Academies reports linking soil degradation to reduced crop micronutrients and weaker human immunity. Fertile soils yield crops richer in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, while industrial practices like tillage erode this benefit; even soil bacteria boost serotonin and immunity through food and exposure. Explore this less understood link, with a key focus on the delicate food web that binds all lives—this chain is vital for nutritionists and dietitians addressing sustainable diets and chronic disease prevention.

Patel advocates research-supported solutions like minimizing tillage, adding organic matter, cover cropping, and fostering microbial diversity to restore soil vitality without synthetics. As we come to understand this relationship and work together to protect and improve soil health, we build the bridge to a more sustainable future—for ourselves and generations to follow. Let’s nurture our base—the soil—and ensure a living planet for all, empowering nutrition professionals to counsel on soil-informed diets and advocate for agroecology policies.

updated 2024 September, 2026 February

Food offer in public settings – A recipe for Sustainable Food Procurement

Citation: Garcia Herrero, L., Perez Cornago, A., Casonato, C., Sarasa-Renedo, A., Bakogianni, I., & et al. (2025). Food offer in public settings – A recipe for sustainable food procurement. Publications Office of the European Union. https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/2906424

The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission put together “Food offer in public settings – A recipe for Sustainable Food Procurement” as a list of criteria, best practices, and other tools that can be incorporated into tenders by contracting authorities and implemented by procurers throughout Europe.

The goal is to help schools, hospitals, and other public institutions and settings, such as canteens, serve food that nourishes people and the planet, and ultimately contribute to a sustainable food system.

updated 2026 February

MyNutriWeb (website)

Nutrition professionals hold a trusted role as agents of change, ideally positioned to drive progress toward diets that nourish both health and the environment.

MyNutriWeb is a Continuing Professional Development (CPD)-accredited online hub, primarily serving UK and Republic of Ireland health professionals, yet globally accessible. They aim to empower dietitians and nutritionists with credible, practical education to embed healthy, sustainable, and equitable nutrition into clinical practice and public health.

MyNutriWeb offers both free and low-cost options for select sessions (including student discounts), such as live/on-demand events, courses, blogs, research reviews, toolkits, and networking opportunities.

These span a broad curriculum from life-stage specific dietary needs to cutting-edge evidence on sustainability initiatives that enhance everyday practice and planetary health, often tailored to UK contexts like National Health Service (NHS) settings, with some multicultural resources.

Sustainable Diets: Fundamentals for Human and Planetary Health is one of MyNutriWeb’s short courses that addresses healthy food and nutrition for all while averting dangerous climate change and restoring the balance of the natural world. It can be previewed for free; there is a charge for the full course. The course brings together leading experts across every aspect of sustainable diets, integrating planetary and nutrition science, together with behaviour change tactics and specific considerations such as low-income groups, athletes, children, and the older population. This course can help professionals develop the confidence and knowledge necessary to incorporate sustainability into their practice.

updated 2026 February