Australian nutrition science plays a key role in improving long-term health and wellbeing globally, while delivering environmental, social and economic benefits nationally. This mid-term review carries on the work of Nourishing Australia: A decadal plan for the science of nutrition (2019–28). The review highlights that, while progress has been made in the nutrition science ecosystem, significant work remains to be done to achieve a collaborative and consolidated approach to building capacity and connections, and advancing research for the benefit of all Australians and their nutritional health.
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The Australian Academy of Science’s National Committee for Nutrition produced Nourishing Australia: A decadal plan for the science of nutrition in 2019. This plan presents an aspirational overview of the vision for nutrition science in Australia over the following decade. The plan sets out pathways to realising the vision that Australian nutrition science plays a key role in improving long-term health and wellbeing globally, while delivering environmental, social and economic benefits nationally with core values of equity, sustainability, collaboration and innovation.
The mid-term review steering committee has evaluated the decadal plan, assessing the current relevance of the original goals and providing insight into the progress made since the plan’s release.
The review highlighted that, while progress has been made in the nutrition science ecosystem, significant work remains to be done to achieve a collaborative and consolidated approach to building capacity and connections, and advancing research for the benefit of all Australians and their nutritional health. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic presented resourcing and human challenges in relation to the implementation of the plan. The plan can only succeed with recognition by the government and research sectors of the crucial role nutrition science plays in health, wellbeing and the economy, and that adequate development of infrastructure and sufficient resourcing and funding is required to facilitate action.
The mid-term review also presented an opportunity to reflect on the plan’s four pillars and the enabling platforms in the context of today’s environment.
Four pillars:
Enabling platforms:
While the original pillars and enabling platforms remain relevant, there are additional aspects that need consideration as implementation progresses. Evolving issues such as food security, sustainability, food processing, and acknowledgement and awareness of the social issues that impact nutrition literacy are now more prominent in nutrition science than in previous years. Furthermore, there is a greater understanding now of recognising the role Indigenous people and Indigenous foods can play in advancing nutrition science.
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