Growing Progress in the Evolving Science, Business, and Policy of Sustainable Nutrition

Abstract

A session was convened at the ASN Nutrition 2018 annual meeting to discuss the scientific evidence on what makes individual foods and dietary patterns both sustainable and nutritious, and the role of various stakeholders in the actions needed to implement food systems that deliver “sustainable nutrition.” This commentary is a structured synthesis of the primary themes of the session, and concludes with a set of implications and research recommendations. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental implications of what they eat, and there is growing momentum toward changes in the food system. However, ecological challenges persist, and although the literature is evolving, methodologic improvements are needed in the scientific approaches to address dietary patterns that meet nutrition needs in more holistically sustainable ways. The session concluded with encouraging evidence that consumers, businesses, scientists, and policy-makers are collectively “rising to the occasion,” with cross-sectoral partnerships to address these issues.

Dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as a vital component of sustainable agriculture and food security—A review

“…The focus on “sustainable nutrition” and “sustainable diets” has received much attention in the scientific literature (Gustafson et al, 2019). A working definition of this concept has been presented as “… the ability of a food system to provide sufficient energy and amounts of essential nutrients required to maintain good health of the population without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their nutritional needs” (Swanson et al, 2013).…”

“…The focus on "sustainable nutrition" and "sustainable diets" has received much attention in the scientific literature (Gustafson et al, 2019). A working definition of this concept has been presented…”

“…Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental impact of various foods in their diets and are making selections based on real or perceived environmental impacts. The concept of "life cycle analysis" (LCA) has been applied to holistically assess the environmental impact of a wide range of elements within a food system (Gustafson et al, 2019). Thus, a comprehensive quantitation of energy input and greenhouse gas emission within the ecosystem must be assessed.…”