2019 Nutrition Decadal Plan

NATIONAL COMMITTEE AUSTRALIAN
FOR NUTRITION ACADEMY OF SCIENCE July 2019
NOURISHING
AUSTRALIA
A decadal plan for the science of nutrition
Realising health, environmental and economic
opportunities to benefit all Australians
NOURISHING
AUSTRALIA
A decadal plan for the science of nutrition
Realising health, environmental and economic
opportunities to benefit all Australians
NATIONAL COMMITTEE AUSTRALIAN

FOR NUTRITION ACADEMY OF SCIENCE July 2019
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support received to be able to undertake this
project from the Australian Research Council’s Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects
scheme. We would like to thank the chairs and members of the Expert Working Group, who
have worked tirelessly to bring this plan to fruition. Our thanks to the entire membership
of the National Committee for Nutrition, who have each contributed significantly to the
development of this plan.
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude also to the participants of the 2017 Theo
Murphy High Flyers Think Tank, who undertook the initial scoping that informed this decadal
plan. We would also like to thank the members of the nutrition science community who
contributed to this plan, whether that be by hosting or attending a consultation workshop,
providing input on the draft plan or by contributing photos to help this plan truly reflect
Australian nutrition science.
We would also like to acknowledge the work of Academy secretariat staff Dr Hayley Teasdale,
Dr Alistair Usher and Dr Chris Hatherly for managing and overseeing this project.
Expert Working Group

Professor Mike Gidley (co-chair)
Professor Stephen Simpson AC FAA FRS (co-chair)
Associate Professor Melinda Coughlan
Professor Manny Noakes
Professor David Raubenheimer
Professor Helen Truby
National Committee for Nutrition

Dr Mary Ann Augustin FTSE
Dr Brooke Harcourt
Mr Philip Juffs
Professor Amanda Lee
Dr Christina Pollard
Dr Malcolm Riley
Dr Shelley Wilkinson
Professor Lisa Wood
© Australian Academy of Science 2019
ISBN 978 0 85847 676 9
This work is copyright. The Copyright Act 1968 permits fair dealing for the purposes of research,
news reporting, criticism or review. Selected passages, tables or diagrams may be reproduced for
such purposes, provided acknowledgement of the source is included. Major extracts may not be
reproduced by any process without written permission of the publisher.
Prepared by the National Committee for Nutrition on behalf of the Australian Academy of Science.
Cover image: Bush tucker - Tropical rainforest fruits on paper bark / Tourism Australia
Back cover image: Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery, WA / tourism.australia.com
All URLs supplied in this plan were viewed July 2019 and were correct at the time of publication.
A digital version of this plan can be downloaded from: www.science.org.au/nourishing-australia
Cite this plan as: National Committee for Nutrition (2019). Nourishing Australia:
a decadal plan for the science of nutrition (Australian Academy of Science)
Some updates were made to this publication in December 2019. In addition to minor editorial
corrections, the iodine infographic on page 5 was corrected to reflect wording provided by the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (www.aihw.gov.au/reports/food-nutrition/folic-acid-iodine-
fortification/contents/summary). If you have the original text, please note the change.
Cover and text printed on Monza Recycled Satin. Monza Recycled contains 99% recycled fibre, and elemental
chlorine free pulp which ensures that pulp is derived from well managed forests and recycled wood of fibre.
Monza Recycled is manufactured by an ISO 14001 certified mill.
CONTENTS
Disclosures of interest IV
Consultation V
Foreword VI
Executive summary 1
Situational snapshot 5
Nutrition science globally, nationally, locally 7
Nutrition science and the Sustainable Development Goals 9
Recommendations and implementation actions 11
Pillar 1 Societal determinants 14
Pillar 2 Nutrition mechanisms 16
Pillar 3 Precision and personalised nutrition 20
Pillar 4 Education and research training 24
The way forward 28
Glossary 29
Abbreviations 29
Bibliography 30
CON T ENTS
N ou ris h in g Au st r a l i a : a deca da l pl an f o r t he s c i en c e o f n ut r i t i on III

DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST
Disclosures of interest from members of the Expert Working Group for 2014 to 2019 are listed below.
Melinda Coughlan David Raubenheimer

Employment: Monash University Employment: The University of Sydney
Consultancy fees/honoraria: Baker Heart and Consultancy fees/honoraria: Cold Spring Harbor
Diabetes Institute Laboratory, Zhengzhou University China
Grants: National Health and Medical Research Grants: Australian Research Council, National Health
Council, JDRF International, Diabetes Australia, JDRF and Medical Research Council, National Geographic
Australian Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Research Network, Society, National Science Foundation (USA), Meat
Novo Nordisk, Australian and New Zealand Society of and Livestock Australia, Canadian Institute of Health
Nephrology Research, New South Wales Department of Primary
Industries, Agence Nationale de la Recherche (France),
Professional memberships: Nutrition Society of
Poultry Research Foundation, The Leakey Foundation,
Australia, Australian and New Zealand Society of
Ocean Park Conservation Foundation (Hong Kong),
Nephrology, Australian Diabetes Society, European
Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (Japan)
Diabetic Nephropathy Study Group, International
Maillard Reaction Society
Stephen Simpson
Mike Gidley Employment: The University of Sydney
Employment: The University of Queensland, through Board membership: Scientific Advisory Board,
the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Australian Agricultural Company (2017); Executive
Innovation, a partnership with the Queensland Director, Obesity Australia (2014–present); Governor,
Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Heart Research Institute (2015–present)
Consultancy fees/honoraria: 14th International Grants: Australian Research Council, National

Symposium on Digestive Physiology of Pigs, Edith Health and Medical Research Council, Novo Nordisk
Cowan University, Nestlé Australia, University of Foundation, Canadian Institutes of Health Research,
Auckland, University of Guelph Agence Nationale de la Recherche (France),
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research
Grants: Australian Research Council, Horticulture
Council (UK). Supporting partnership contributions as
Innovation Australia, Pork Cooperative Research
a component of Australian Research Council Linkage
Centre, Innovation Connections. Supporting partnership
grants received from: Sanitarium, Australian Plague
contributions as a component of grants received from:
Locust Commission, Taronga Conservation Society
Arcadia Biosciences, Ardent Mills, Arnott’s, Australian
Vinegar, Manildra Group, PepsiCo, SunRice
Helen Truby
Professional memberships: Australian Institute of
Employment: Monash University
Food Science and Technology, Australasian Grain
Science Association, Cereals and Grains International, Grants: National Health and Medical Research Council,
International Academy of Food Science and Victorian Cancer Agency Health Services Scheme,
Technology, Nutrition Society of Australia Brain Foundation, Jenny Craig Weight Loss Centres
Australia, Nutricia Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy
Manny Noakes Trust and the Duchenne Foundation Australia, Victorian
Department of Health, Coopers Foundation, SAX
Employment: CSIRO Health and Biosecurity (Director
Institute and the New South Wales Office of Preventive
Nutrition and Health)
Health, Andrea Joy Logan Trust
Consultancy fees/honoraria: Lion Nutrition Advisory,
Professional memberships: Dietitians Association
SP Health, Dietitians Association Australia, Government
of Australia (Advanced Accrediting Practicing
of South Australia, Australian Egg Industry Council,
Disc lo sure s of in t erest
Dietitian), Nutrition Society of Australia, British Dietetic

Meat and Livestock Australia, Horticulture Innovation
Association, American Society of Nutrition, Fellow of
Australia
the Association for Nutrition
Grants: National Health and Medical Research Council,
Unilever Australia, Innovation Connections. Indirectly
involved as Director with grants from: Swisse, Malaysian
Palm Oil Board, Dairy Australia, Lion
Professional memberships: Nutrition Society of

Australia
IV Nou rishing Au st ra lia : a d e ca da l p lan f o r t he s c i en c e o f n ut r i t i o n

CONSULTATION
The decadal plan Expert Working Group committed to
taking a consultative approach in preparing this plan.
It engaged with a broad cross section of the nutrition
community to develop the plan and to seek feedback
Consulted with 350+
and input. The committee held a number of targeted people in the nutrition
meetings, attended professional society functions and
science community
350+
university-based open forums and interviewed key
decision-makers.
The process for plan development involved:

• initiation
• consultation paper development
• sectoral consultation
• draft plan development
• finalisation of the decadal plan
• publication, launch and the beginning of
implementation.
The first event in support of the decadal plan was the

2017 Theo Murphy High Flyers Think Tank ‘Rethinking
food and nutrition science: Aspirations, obstacles and
strategies for the future’. More information on this
meeting may be found at www.science.org.au/news-
and-events/events/think-tanks/rethinking-food-and-
Consulted with 25+
nutrition-science societies, organisations
National community consultation meetings: and universities
25+
• Canberra, 20 June 2018
• Melbourne, 28 June 2018
• Wollongong, 4 July 2018
• Adelaide, 9 July 2018
• Sydney, 16 July 2018
• Newcastle, 26 July 2018
• Brisbane, 2 August 2018
• Perth, 9 August 2018
• Hobart, 15 August 2018
• Launceston, 15 August 2018
• Webinar, 20 August 2018
• Melbourne, 3 September 2018
Con sultatio n
N ou ris h in g Au st r a l i a : a deca da l pl an f o r t he s c i en c e o f n ut r i t i on V
CREDIT: LUKAS BUDIMAIER / UNSPLASH / PUBLIC DOMAIN

FOREWORD
This decadal plan, Nourishing Australia, presents a bold plan for the science of nutrition in
Australia; a plan to harness our world-class scientific knowledge to help combat one of the
most significant challenges humanity will face in the coming decade: the double burden of
malnutrition and obesity.
This decadal plan is an important example of the power that the National Committees for
Science, convened by the Australian Academy of Science, can have in bringing many different
people together from across a scientific discipline. These committees are uniquely placed to
bring together societies, research institutions or industry groups with similar aspirations and
provide an impartial platform to create cohesive strategies for their scientific discipline. The
National Committee for Nutrition led the development of Nourishing Australia, and I commend
them on delivering a plan that represents such a diverse community in a way that truly
embodies how varied—yet interconnected—the nutrition science community is in Australia.
It is evident from this plan just how many disciplines will need to work together to secure our
nutrition and food future. The writing and consultation process alone initiated many important
conversations that will pave the way towards creating innovative solutions for the future of
Australia and our region.
Over the next ten years, radical action is required to ensure Australia’s food and nutrition
security, improve our health and wellbeing and reduce our impact on the environment.
Nourishing Australia outlines steps that need to be taken to secure our future. This plan was
written by the community, and so must the community carry the recommendations forward and
take action towards realising their vision. This will be no small feat, but we have never been
better equipped to meet these challenges.
Dr TJ Higgins AO FAA FTSE

Vice President and Secretary for Biological Sciences (2015–2019)
Australian Academy of Science
Fo rewo rd
CREDIT: MICHAEL JOHN HOOD 2013 © / 100 FACES OF SCIENCE
VI Nou rishing Au st ra lia : a d e ca da l p lan f o r t he s c i en c e o f n ut r i t i o n

Fundamental changes in the way that food is produced, distributed and consumed during
the past two centuries have been instrumental in allowing us to feed an expanding global
population in the face of increasing land and natural resource constraints. Recently, the
world has seen a dramatic increase in the scope of nutritional challenges, with around two
billion people affected either by undernutrition and nutritional insecurity or by diseases of
overnutrition, including obesity and its many associated comorbidities.
Nutrition is a primary mediator between our biology and our physical and mental health, and
has enormous potential for the prevention, management and treatment of human disease.
Achieving that potential requires a profound shift in understanding, approach and practice—
a revitalised science of nutrition that:
• integrates with research fields that focus on the societal and economic factors that shape
our food environment and influence dietary behaviour
• moves away from emphasising the roles of single nutrients or commodities and better
integrates knowledge across nutrients, foods and dietary patterns to understand how diet
impacts health and disease
• goes beyond observational association to establish the biological, behavioural and societal
mechanisms through which nutrition impacts health and disease processes
• engages a diversity of disciplines to identify system leverage points, intervention and

evaluation strategies, and to model the system-wide impacts of nutrition, sufficient to
tailor and optimise a sustainable and healthy food production, supply and consumption to
achieve local, national and international health, societal, environmental and economic goals
• reflects its capacity to inform and integrate across the many realms and disciplines that are
fundamentally impacted by nutrition by supporting nutrition literacy in the community and
developing health professional research and education.
These targets are now tractable due to recent advances in nutrition theory, the integration
of psychology, social sciences and economics to define societal and commercial influences,
and rapid progress in molecular and systems biology. These and other approaches are
greatly facilitated by the ability to obtain massive experimental datasets, such as those
from multiple omics technologies, citizen science and prospective cohort studies, and
the computational power to systematise and analyse these data. When combined with
established approaches in epidemiology, intervention trials and basic mechanism of action
studies, many of the key biological science challenges in nutrition can now realistically be
tackled. However, in order to achieve lasting impact and population health benefits, greater
focus on social and environmental factors will be necessary. Indeed, without a strengthened
contribution from the broad range of social, economic and environmental disciplines to the
science of nutrition, traditional approaches will not deliver their potential benefits in translating
knowledge into impact.
Australia enjoys a global reputation for its nutrition science, one of many disciplines where we
‘punch above our weight’. In combination with established strengths in our agrifood industry,
medical technology, social sciences and higher education sectors, Australia is entering an
era of opportunity to be a regional and global leader in broadening the science of nutrition
and linking it to health, social, environmental and economic outcomes for the benefit of
all Australians.
Professor Mike Gidley

Chair, National Committee for Nutrition
Co-chair, Decadal Plan Expert Working Group
Professor Stephen Simpson AC FAA FRS

For ewo rd
Co-chair, Decadal Plan Expert Working Group
N ou ris h in g Au st r a l i a : a deca da l pl an f o r t he s c i en c e o f n ut r i t i on V II
CREDIT: SHAUN COWARD / UNSPLASH / PUBLIC DOMAIN
VIII Nou rishing Au st ra lia : a d e ca da l p lan f o r t he s c i en c e o f n ut r i t i o n

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The science of nutrition is entering an exciting era, with • reduced burden of chronic diseases from increased
recent advances in measurement technologies, policy nutrition literacy, and greater understanding of
insights and complex data analysis, coupled with new cause-and-effect mechanisms linking dietary
theory frameworks that offer a promise of tackling many patterns to health and disease
complex scientific and pressing societal challenges
• cost-effective, equitable population health initiatives
in which food and nutrition play a central role. This
developed from accurate knowledge of current
decadal plan sets out a strategy for realising the vision
diet–health relationships and addressing societal
that Australian nutrition science plays a key role in
and commercial factors
improving long-term health and wellbeing globally,
while delivering environmental, social and economic • improved diets leading to increased physical
benefits nationally with core values of equity, and mental health
sustainability, collaboration and innovation.
• nutrition credentials that will drive a premium
The plan is aspirational and further consultation agrifood sector, particularly for exports
is needed prior to implementation. Successful
• growth of a ‘nutritech’ sector that provides
implementation is expected to result in health,
software, hardware, analysis and commercial
wellbeing and economic benefits, including:
services to support a healthy and sustainable food
and health system
• helping to achieve global targets such as the UN

Sustainable Development Goals.
National research priority

Enabling
platforms
National capability for nutrition data
Trusted voice
Reduced burden
of chronic
diseases
Pillar 1 Pillar 2 Pillar 3 Efficient and equitable

Social Nutrition Precision and population health
determinants mechanisms personalised initiatives
nutrition
Science Improved diets that

priorities lead to increased
productivity
Premium agri-food
products driven
by nutrition
A vibrant nutritech
sector
Exec ut ive s umm ary
Pillar 4
Improved nutrition literacy
Education
Training the next generation
and training
Upskilling for professionals
N ou ris h in g Au st r a l i a : a deca da l pl an f o r t he s c i en c e o f n ut r i t i on 1
P L AT F O R M S
To achieve these benefits and more,

three enabling platforms are required:
1 NUTRITION AS A NATIONAL
RESEARCH PRIORITY
to address technical, social and
2 A NATIONAL CAPABILITY
FOR NUTRITION DATA
to capture and analyse dietary
3 A ‘TRUSTED VOICE’
to provide credible,
evidence-based nutrition
environmental challenges through intake and health outcomes of information and use professional
multidisciplinary collaboration Australians to guide national policy communicators to counteract
and innovation, resulting in major and intervention strategies and misinformation and improve
health and economic benefits. stimulate the science of nutrition. general society nutrition literacy.
PILLARS
These platforms support and are

supported by four pillars:
1 SOCIETAL
DETERMINANTS
Understanding how
2 NUTRITION
MECHANISMS
Identifying cause-and-
3 PRECISION AND
PERSONALISED
NUTRITION
4 EDUCATION AND
RESEARCH
TRAINING
food environments effect relationships Improving cost- Enhancing the
drive dietary patterns between diet and effectiveness through population’s food
and identifying health or disease. targeted dietary solutions. and nutrition literacy
intervention strategies and growing the
for improved outcomes. professionalisation of
specialised nutritionists.
VISION
AUSTRALIAN NUTRITION SCIENCE PLAYS A KEY ROLE

IN IMPROVING LONG-TERM HEALTH AND WELLBEING
GLOBALLY, WHILE DELIVERING ENVIRONMENTAL,
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS NATIONALLY.
The way forward includes developing detailed governance structures and business cases for the establishment
and sustainable resourcing of the national nutrition data capability and trusted voice, scoping major initiatives
consistent with a national research priority and providing a forum for the development of national collaborations
across the broad scope of the science of nutrition.
VA LU E S
1 EQUITY
Ensuring that
advances in the
2 SUSTAINABILITY
Delivering long-
term benefits through
3 COLLABORATION
Embedding a culture
of shared resources
4 INNOVATION
Embracing the
opportunities of new
science and application continuous monitoring and responsibilities science and complex
of nutrition benefit and communication to realise the benefits and diverse data to
Exe cut ive s umm ary
all Australians and of diet–health of integrated, cross- drive community, public

regional partners. relationships, training disciplinary approaches. and private sector
the next generation of opportunities for the
nutrition scientists and betterment of health and
integrating environmental productivity of Australians.
sustainability into
nutrition knowledge.
2 Nou rishing Au st ra lia : a d e ca da l p lan f o r t he s c i en c e o f n ut r i t i o n

By using these values to deliver real impacts, the vision will be
realised through a focus on four priority pillars:
P I LLAR 1 PILLAR 2
S OC I E TAL DETER M I NANTS N U T RIT ION ME CH AN IS MS
• Developing a framework for the food system • Identifying mechanisms by which diets, foods
that supports equitable access to healthy foods and nutrients influence human biology
and effective population nutrition interventions,
• Defining how and why dietary patterns affect
underpinned by national policy development
health and wellbeing outcomes, leading to:
• Combining quantitative and qualitative research
• enhanced population dietary advice
to assess the drivers of dietary choices and the
social context within which they are made • targets for high-value agrifood.
• Quantitatively mapping Australia’s food and
nutrient intake and health (biomarkers) to
identify intervention opportunities, leading to:
• cost-effective use of resources and
increased impact of nutrition messages,
programs and policies
• assessment and monitoring of food

environments and contributory factors.
P I LLAR 3 PILLAR 4
PR E CI S I ON AND E D U CAT ION AN D
PE R S O N ALI SED NUTR I TI ON RE S E ARCH T RAIN IN G
• Understanding group and individual differences • Supporting a future workforce in the science
in responses to dietary patterns and their of nutrition via competency-based education
interactions with prescribed medications that incorporates genomics, bioinformatics
and systems biology, both in formal nutrition
• Developing data analytics from measurement
education as well as incorporating nutrition into
of nutritional status, health status, age
medical and allied health professional training
and genotype and envirotype sufficient
and development
to predict solutions for diet and lifestyle
change, leading to: • Developing and sustaining skilled professionals
to research, innovate, communicate, counsel,
• precision and personalised diet and
train and educate, leading to:
lifestyle advice with cost-effective
health benefits • a nutrition literate and well-informed
general populace, able to make effective
• nutritech start-up opportunities aimed at
choices around diet and nutrition
fostering innovation through developing
new tools, products, programs and services • capacity building for Australia and the
to deliver better health outcomes. region, coupled with higher education
capability growth
Exec ut ive s umm ary
• Developing capacity of the nutrition workforce,

supported by a network of nutrition leaders who
are skilled in complex and adaptive thinking
with foresight and broad vision, who work
collaboratively across disciplines and sectors to
positively influence food systems and nutrition.
The science of nutrition is entering a new • identifying how population dietary interventions with
era of opportunity greater chances of success than current approaches
can be made through identifying and managing
The science of nutrition has evolved significantly over
societal and commercial factors (pillar 1)
the past hundred years. The focus has shifted from
identifying specific essential nutrient requirements • providing understanding of the mechanisms by
to avoid deficiency diseases (for example, vitamins which dietary patterns, as well as specific foods
and minerals), through the roles and potential health and nutrients within them, influence human
challenges posed by specific food components biology (pillar 2)
(particularly saturated and trans fat, alcohol, added
• defining how group and individual differences in
sugar and salt), to the current global consensus that
genotype, age and environment influence nutritional
dietary patterns are the most appropriate guide to
and health outcomes (pillar 3)
health outcomes and the need to understand the
interactions among foods and nutrients on health, • developing the profession of nutrition through
rather than focusing on single components. The move competency-based education and communicating
from a reductionist focus on specific nutrients to a with consumers via consistent and trusted
whole-of-diet approach represents a major dislocation messaging (pillar 4).
that public policy, consumer understanding and
The modern science of nutrition integrates concepts,
the food industries are yet to come to terms with.
theories and approaches from a diverse range of
In parallel, a growing understanding of the role of
disciplines, including social, agricultural, biological,
societal and commercial factors in determining food
medical, physicochemical and environmental sciences.
intake, food choice behaviour and subsequent health
This diversity reflects the pervasive and system-
outcomes is leading to a reappraisal of approaches to
wide influence of nutrition. Enabled by major recent
tackle inequalities in nutrition security.
capability advances in measurement, modelling and
The science of nutrition will play a strong role in the complex data analysis, the science of nutrition provides
next decade by: a timely grand challenge to integrate concepts across
disciplines to derive mechanisms that will inform new
approaches to enhancing human health, productivity
and wellbeing.
The era of opportunity for the science of nutrition
Population nutrition Discovery opportunities

1. A framework for the agri-food system that
Microbiota, gut–brain axis
Nutrient/vitamin Fat vs sugar vs Foods and enables predictable interventions
discovery and salt as chronic dietary Omics technologies 2. Mechanisms by which diets influence
RDAs disease causes patterns human biology and chronic diseases
System models, complex data
3. Understanding of group/individual
Genotype effects differences in responses to diets
Outcome opportunities
• Next-generation dietary guidelines
Dietary guidelines based • Enhanced and equitable population health
Dietary recommendations
Specific deficiencies on food groups—globally and productivity improvements
based on nutrients
identified and addressed consistent messages • High levels of population nutrition literacy
(e.g. fat, salt, sugar)
emphasising plant-based foods and professional nutrition training
• Drivers for growth and value in agri-food
and nutritech industry sectors
Driving the science of nutrition through integration across disciplines
Nutrition as the integration between environmental,

social and genomic factors in determining human health,
productivity and well-being that is sustainable and equitable
A framework for the agri-food system that enables predictable interventions

Exe cut ive s umm ary
Mechanisms by which diets influence human biology

Understanding of group and individual differences in responses to diets
Measurement · Complex data analysis · Modelling · Mechanisms
Biochemistry · Analytical chemistry · Physiology · Material science · Cell biology · Psychology

Molecular biology · Genetics · Ecology · Neuroscience · Microbiology · Social science · Food science ... and others

SITUATIONAL SNAPSHOT
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines nutrition as The benefits of human nutrition extend across the
‘the act or process of nourishing or being nourished’. whole lifespan and are a central determinant of not only
For any organism, including humans, the benefit of health outcomes, but also quality of life and mental and
good nourishment is the ability to not just survive, but physical productivity. Optimising nutrition can reduce
thrive in their environment. the burden of malnutrition and stimulate workplace and
economic productivity.
Every country in the Six of the top nine Nearly 4 in 5 9 in 10

world is affected by risk factors to global Australian adults Australian adults
malnutrition health are now related do not eat the do not eat the
to diet recommended daily recommended daily
serves of fruit serves of vegetables
More than half the Every $1 invested in A quarter of Two-thirds of

world’s malnourished nutrition yields $16 in Australian children Australian adults are
children live in the benefits across health and adolescents are above a healthy weight
Asia-Pacific region and productivity above a healthy weight
Statistics obtained from the 2018 Global Nutrition Report Statistics obtained from 2018 AIHW report Nutrition across
the life stages
The 2018 Global Nutrition Report tracks the progress With the limited land, water, energy and nutrient
of countries against nine nutrition targets: resources available to feed a population of up to
10 billion people, it is a reality that sustainability of
1. child overweight 6. diabetes among men
global resources is intimately connected to current
2. child wasting 7. anaemia in women of
and future food and nutrition security. This adds further
3. child stunting reproductive age
complexity and importance to identifying and achieving
4. exclusive breastfeeding 8. obesity among women
appropriate dietary patterns across populations
5. diabetes among women 9. obesity among men.
into the future. Producing more of the same food in
Despite being a wealthy country with high agricultural the same way will not suffice. Sustainable diets that
productivity and food quality, Australia is listed as being maximise nutritional outcomes require that we rethink
on track to achieving just two of the nine nutrition current production and commercial practices, manage
targets. In part, this is because of inequalities in resources and the food system responsibly and
wealth distribution that result in many people finding it facilitate and support changes in dietary behaviours.
difficult to afford a healthy diet, particularly in rural and
remote areas where fresh food is more expensive. The
Iodine intakes in women aged 16–44 increased by
importance of supporting production of good quality 52% following mandatory iodine fortification of bread
and healthy agricultural products, and ensuring it is in Australia
accessible, affordable, sustainable and healthy for all
Australians, including the most vulnerable, requires
acknowledgement reflected in commitment to a broad
range of nutrition-related actions.
Sit uat ion al sn aps hot
Eight of nine key nutrition indicators are off target at a Neural tube defects in Indigenous women in Australia
global level (adult high blood pressure, adult obesity, fell by 74% after the mandatory folic acid fortification
adult overweight, anaemia, childhood stunting, of bread O
O
childhood wasting, childhood overweight and CO₂H
salt intake) HN N
N
H₂N N H
N H
N
CO₂H
Statistics obtained from the 2018 Global Nutrition Report Examples of how nutrition science has informed policy and led to
improved health outcomes (statistics obtained from AIHW report
Monitoring the health impacts of mandatory folic acid and iodine
fortification 2016)
The Australian Blood lime is one in a range of hybrid limes developed by CSIRO
Plant Industry for commercial cultivation. It is a hybrid produced by open pollination,
from a cross between an Ellendale mandarin (a mandarin and orange hybrid) and a
seedling form of the Australian finger lime (Citrus australasica var. sanguinea).
CREDIT: CARL DAVIES / CSIRO / CC-BY-3.0

NUTRITION SCIENCE GLOBALLY,
NATIONALLY, LOCALLY
The challenges of persistent malnutrition and diet- developing a holistic understanding of the complex
related chronic diseases are both global and local. agrifood system and the consequences for food intake
Australia has continuing and pressing issues in nutrition and nutrition and resulting health prospects (pillar 1).
insecurity, particularly in disadvantaged and remote
Improved nutrition security and health of Australians
communities, as well as well-documented challenges in
through each of the pillars is the major driver for this
addressing rising rates of obesity, diabetes and other
plan, but the science of nutrition can also significantly
diet-related chronic conditions.
contribute to important sectors of the Australian
Australia has an interest in ensuring these challenges economy. These include:
are addressed. While the Australian science community
• an agrifood sector that produces all components
contributes strongly to the global effort, it has done so
of a healthy dietary pattern and positions Australia
in the absence of regular monitoring of diet and health
as a preferred country of origin for key export
relationships within Australia itself. National nutrition
destinations. Understanding the underlying
surveys are infrequent and irregular, resulting in a lack
mechanisms of the health benefits of (combinations
of current information on the relationship between
of) Australian foods supports the marketing needed
food intake and health outcomes for Australians.
to grow exports of premium foods and meals.
Neither have we assessed, benchmarked and
Current challenges such as reciprocal influences
monitored the food environments, determinant factors
between diet and climate change, and opportunities
(including conventional, social and electronic media
such as gene editing and other new methods,
and marketing) and government policies for nutrition
should be assessed in the context of enhancing
impacts, or the perceptions, beliefs and motivations
potential health value from agriculture (pillar 2)
around diet in Australians. These deficiencies urgently
need to be rectified. Mobile and web-based surveys • a fast-growing nutritech sector that offers
and linkage with complex datasets make this a much services and measurement technologies to assist
easier prospect than in the past, allowing for ongoing professionals and the community in relating
detailed data collection and analysis that can inform nutritional requirements to dietary solutions. This
national and local policy and action. is relevant in precision and personalised nutrition
applications for either cost-effective health
A constraint on advancing the science of nutrition in
outcomes or enhanced performance through dietary
Australia is that there is currently no national nutrition
pattern adjustment (pillar 3)
policy or plan. A policy or plan based on robust
evidence that reflects the four pillars of this plan would • a higher education sector that is well placed
provide a framework for sustainable population health to provide professional training and career
improvement initiatives. development in the science and application
of nutrition for domestic and international
Australia, with its climatic, geographical and
students (pillar 4).
demographic diversity and modest population, has an
opportunity to play a key global role as a model for
Australia’s opportunities Nut rit io n sc ien ce global ly, nat ion ally, locally
A framework for the agrifood system

that enables predictable interventions
Becoming a leading nation for development

Mechanisms by which diets of predictive agrifood network systems
influence human biology
Addressing local equity and nutrition security
Adding value to the premium agrifood sector
Leading the nutritech start-up sector
Understanding of group and individual
differences in responses to diets Developing high-level nutrition education services
Training the future workforce in the

science of nutrition
Professor Martina Doblin (UTS) leads the Productive Coasts research program within the Climate Change
Cluster (C3) in the UTS Faculty of Science. Her work contributes to solving Australia’s grand challenges of
food security, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem health, as well as climate variability and change.
CREDIT: ANDY ROBERTS ©

NUTRITION SCIENCE
AND THE SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT GOALS
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) form part strong interactions with another 10 goals, placing the
of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development set discipline at the heart of the global drive for sustainable
by the United Nations in 2016. The science of nutrition development. As a central element of achieving
informs high-quality diets and sustainable agriculture. the SDGs, actions in all areas need to incorporate
The interactions between societal factors, food consideration of impacts on, and achievement of,
availabilities, dietary practices and nutrition outcomes healthy and sustainable diets.
are crucial in achieving the SDGs.
The SDGs present an opportunity to integrate
The goal most directly linked to nutritional outcomes approaches and interventions to improve nutrition
and this decadal plan is SDG 2: to end hunger, achieve and will be important for ensuring equity among the
food security and improved nutrition and promote population with the evolution of the science of nutrition.
sustainable agriculture. These aims integrate and The path to achieving global targets for nutrition allows
link food security, nutrition and a sustainable and opportunities to advance multiple SDGs simultaneously,
climate-resilient agriculture. Nutritional outcomes likewise broad investments in education, climate
and the science of nutrition also have particularly change or water will influence nutrition outcomes.
Improves wellbeing,
Stimulates demand reduces health costs
for food linked and increases
to sustainable productivity and
production future earning
Enhances demand potential Increases
for food linked to prosperity, reduces
sustainable aquatic hunger and improves
Nut rit io n sc ien ce an d t he Sustain ab le Deve lo pm ent G oa l s

production food security
Reduces the risk

Supports significant
reduction of greenhouse
gas emissions
DIET of morbidity and
mortality for a range
QUALITY of diseases
Makes healthier Supports improved

foods available to address cognitive development and
undernutrition healthy choices by mothers
and obesity and the coming
generations
Helps reduce Helps unlock
stunting which girls’ and female
mainly affects adolescents’ potential
low-income to perform well
groups Stimulates at school and in
productivity and the workforce
reduces likelihood
of disease
Melissa de Oliveira Santos Garcia removing
anthers before making crosses in wheat.
CREDIT: ALEXANDRE GARCIA ©
It’s 2030. A commitment to healthy, secure and sustainable diets has

become part of the Australian national identity. New models of cross-sectoral
collaboration, underpinned by evidence-based research and consistent
messaging from a trusted voice, are measurably improving the national diet.
Australia’s focus on the science of nutrition as a national research
priority has resulted in its recognition as a global leader in identifying
the mechanisms underpinning healthy diets and applying global
nutrition science to develop cost-effective solutions that combat the
major non-communicable diseases and diseases of ageing.
Through being a leader and investor in the science and technology of
precision nutrition, targeted interventions are improving the health of
nutritionally insecure Australians, and a vibrant and growing nutritech
sector is providing health and economic benefits for Australia.
There is a pipeline supply of highly skilled nutrition innovators, practitioners
and communicators to support the population’s high level of food and
nutrition literacy, achieved by integrating nutrition across diverse scientific
disciplines and throughout educational curriculums from early childhood.
10 Nourishin g Australia: a decadal plan for t h e science of nutrition

RECOMMENDATIONS AND
IMPLEMENTATION ACTIONS
This plan recommends that the science of nutrition includes a focus on vulnerable groups such as
becomes a national research priority for the coming mothers and infants, while building understanding
decade. This recognises the centrality of food and of the social and financial challenges faced by
nutrition in addressing pressing challenges and families and communities in feeding themselves
opportunities across health, social welfare, industry and healthy, sustainable and culturally appropriate
agriculture portfolios, and with consequential financial nutritious diets.
benefits through reducing healthcare costs, integrated
Such a database has not yet been established in
welfare strategies, promoting productive lives and
Australia, but with appropriate curation and the
supporting the agrifood sector and development
power of data analytics, the proposed national
of a nutritech industry. Commitment and resources
nutrition data capability would offer the information
are required to embed and monitor current nutrition
needed to develop, test, refine and implement
knowledge and dietary recommendations into agrifood
a comprehensive diet system network model
and manufacturing practices and policies, social,
that is sufficiently robust to predict the results of
welfare and education policies, food marketing and
intervention strategies.
regulation and preventive and curative services.
Practical impacts of the national nutrition data
Investments in complex data and omics capabilities will
capability include national nutrition policy
position nutrition as the key mediating discipline in the
development based on real-world experience
integration of environmental and genomic factors in
and robust evidence, together with monitoring,
determining human health, productivity and wellbeing.
benchmarking and assessment of population-level
The biology and chemistry of nutrient sensing,
health and welfare, nutrition equity, environmental
decoding of signals through the conserved physiology
sustainability and productivity.
of the gut–brain axis and the consequent influence
on multiple realms of biology at individual level and • The development of a national nutrition entity
beyond are now all within reach. Integrative nutrition is (linked to the national nutrition data capability) to
the systems biology challenge of our time, with the provide a credible, independent, evidence-based
right combination of impact and technical stretch to be professional trusted voice that can use information
a national priority. technology and media experts to communicate the
state of evidence and advice around healthy diets
A further two major initiatives are recommended to
and fact-check/myth-bust the latest fads and health
ensure a high level of national impact on the future
claims. The risks—both real and perceived—of
health and wellbeing of all Australians:
bias and conflict of interest are especially acute in
• The development of a living database (a national the case of nutrition science, and this needs to be
capability for nutrition data) of the Australian reflected in the entity’s funding, governance and
food supply, societal, welfare, commercial and editorial policies.
media environments, dietary intake patterns,
These recommendations cut across all four pillars of
nutritional status and health outcomes of a large
the decadal plan. Additional recommendations specific
and representative cohort across Australia. This
Reco mm endat ion s an d impl emen tat ion ac t ion s

to individual pillars are detailed in relevant sections.
Realising the opportunity: from data to knowledge to impact
National capability
Food intake and
for nutrition data Trusted Voice
biomarkers for
health and wellness
Data Knowledge Communication
PILLAR 1: PILLAR 2:
SOCIETAL NUTRITION
DETERMINANTS MECHANISMS
1.1 Broaden nutrition science to encompass and prioritise 2.1.1 Identify the science of nutrition as a national
research into factors that influence dietary behaviour and research priority
identify effective interventions 2.1.2 Enhance the profile of nutrition through increased NHMRC
1.2 Develop and test behavioural economic models to identify and ARC research funding success rates
factors that influence consumer demand for healthy 2.1.3 Position the science of nutrition as a priority for the MRFF
products over unhealthy processed foods
2.1.4 Ensure that fit-for-purpose conceptual and experimental
1.3 Establish structures to enhance cohesion of nutrition and frameworks, facilities, measurement tools and modelling
related sciences in Australia capabilities are available
1.4 Encourage the scientific community to be proactive in 2.2.1 Identify data collection approaches that can be connected
exposing diet messaging based on ideology and other to and analysed by a national capability for nutrition data
ulterior motives, including financial gain
2.2.2 Harness methods to analyse complex and diverse data
1.5 Found a national nutrition collective, representing all using shared national facilities
stakeholder groups, that will establish approaches for
2.3.1 Articulate the challenge of integrating across diverse
modernising nutrition science and practice in Australia
physiologies to define program and project opportunities
2.3.2 Provide training to higher degree research students
and early- and mid-career researchers in the science of
nutrition to build human capacity
2.3.3 Ensure that fit-for-purpose facilities, measurement tools
and modelling capabilities are widely available
2.4.1 Plan and obtain support for measurement and
communication of nutritional attributes of premium
Australian foods
2.4.2 Identify and realise opportunities for premium products
(foods, meals, diets) of Australian origin
Reco mm en dat ion s an d impl emen tat ion ac t ion s

PILLAR 3: PILLAR 4:
PRECISION AND EDUCATION AND
PERSONALISED NUTRITION RESEARCH TRAINING
3.1.1 Incorporate nutritional genomics into a national nutrition 4.1.1 All professional nutritionists undertake
policy framework competency-based education
3.1.2 Incorporate nutritional genomics and precision nutrition in 4.1.2 All nutrition courses adopt a code of ethics and their
nutrition, health professional and medical training within graduates are fit to practice
educational institutions 4.2 Harness the scope and reach of social media, the internet
3.1.3 Research the cost-effectiveness of nutritional genomics and other mass communication channels to enable
and precision nutrition nutrition professionals to communicate to the public
3.2.1 Increase literacy in the use of the tools of information effectively and efficiently
technology (such as the Internet of Things, artificial 4.3 Integrate nutrition education, including food skills,
intelligence and machine learning) in nutrition and health across all formal education (early childhood, school,
education programs TAFE and tertiary)
3.2.2 Increase literacy in genetics, genomics and bioinformatics 4.4 Ensure evidence-based teaching, including societal
from secondary education onwards determinants and the ethics of precision and personalised
3.2.3 Incorporate nutritional genomics as a core subject in nutrition, as core competencies in all accredited and
tertiary nutrition health professional programs professional development courses
3.2.4 Foster cross-disciplinary research with areas such as 4.5.1 Develop clear career pathways and opportunities in
computer science, information science and technology, research, public health and advocacy roles
engineering and health economics 4.5.2 Develop a training framework of competency from basic to
3.3.1 Ensure that researchers and ethical boards prioritise advanced levels in line with these career pathways
keeping abreast of technological shifts in digital tools 4.6 Incorporate leadership training in professional
and genomics to maintain the ability to guard privacy and development courses by leveraging existing nutrition
confidentiality and maintain trust leadership platforms, such as the Oceanic Nutrition
3.3.2 Encourage researchers to actively engage the public in Leadership Platform
precision and personalised research and discourse
3.3.3 Develop professional policies regarding human–subject
research, data privacy, clinical practice standards and
public health goals in precision and personalised nutrition
3.3.4 Embed cross-disciplinary ethical analysis (for example,
between law, social science, humanities, political science
and the public) into collaborations from inception
3.4 Cultivate evidence-based responsible research and
innovation to best serve public safety and health through:
i. fostering training and research in precision and
personalised nutrition
Reco mm endat ion s an d impl emen tat ion ac t ion s

ii. ensuring ongoing independent evaluation and
synthesis of commercial precision and personalised
nutritech products
iii. promotion of commercial and science partnerships
to foster innovation in evidence-based precision and
personalised nutritech products
iv. developing sustainable and independent precision and
personalised nutrition science platforms that assess
and synthesise data on an ongoing dynamic basis
v. ensuring researcher transparency by disclosing conflict
of interests of all involved parties
vi. ensuring decisions are informed by scientific evaluation
of the available evidence in cases where insurance
coverage of precision and personalised nutrition
products services is proposed
PILLAR 1
SOCIETAL DETERMINANTS
Nutrition in context
Insight Aspiration Actions Impacts Metrics
Insight 1.1 Aspiration 1.1.1 Action 1.1 Impact 1.1 Metric 1.1
If followed more broadly, The factors that prevent Australians from Broaden nutrition science Improved Australian diet quality Greater adoption of the principles of
existing evidence-based following dietary guidelines are understood to encompass and prioritise dietary guidelines
dietary guidelines would research into factors that
lead to substantial Aspiration 1.1.2 influence dietary behaviour
health improvements in Effective interventions targeting these factors are and identify effective
Australians implemented interventions
Insight 1.2 Aspiration 1.2 Action 1.2 Impact 1.2 Metric 1.2
Competition between A culture shift in Australia sees consumer Develop and test behavioural A new generation of agrifood Reduction in the preponderance of
health objectives and demand and industry capability increase the economic models to identify products that retain the unhealthy processed foods that displace
commercial interests market competitiveness of healthy alternatives to factors that influence benefits of food processing healthy alternatives
impacts negatively on unhealthy processed foods consumer demand for without negative health
the quality of Australian healthy products over impacts
diets and health unhealthy processed foods
Insight 1.3 Aspiration 1.3 Action 1.3 Impact 1.3.1 Metric 1.3.1
Substantial negative The Australian nutrition science community has a Establish structures to The nutrition science Improved public perception of the
impacts on diet and trusted and authoritative voice representing the enhance cohesion of community is unified around nutrition science community
health derive from best scientific evidence. This does not preclude nutrition and related a solid foundation of well-
‘spurious uncertainty’, scientific debate, which is essential for scientific sciences in Australia established evidence-based Metric 1.3.2
where legitimate debate progress, rather, it: information on the links Enhanced clarity and transparency on
among nutrition experts i. authoritatively delineates information around between diets and health what is evidence-based fact, what is
is exaggerated or which there is consensus in nutrition science conjecture and what is misinformation
twisted to undermine from information that is subject to varying Impact 1.3.2 in nutrition
evidence-based degrees of uncertainty Hypotheses and equivocal
knowledge. This is facts are clearly delineated
called the ‘tobacco ii. exposes cases where these categories are from those sufficiently well
control playbook’, as it disingenuously conflated for self-interest, such as established to inform nutrition
is the modus operandi financial or ideological motives messaging, policy and
of the tobacco industry iii. acts as a point of evidence collation for commercial strategy
for undermining the government consultation and advocacy to
scientific evidence government and other groups
associating its product
with disease
Misinformation about the There is a culture of accountability that Encourage the scientific A shift from the postmodern Greater clarity in public messaging
links between diet and moderates unconstrained and self-serving claims community to be proactive diet culture in which around what is opinion and what is
health has the potential in the public arena about links between diet and in exposing diet messaging unqualified and conflicted evidence-based information
to be a serious public health. No such restraint applies in other arenas, based on ideology and other views are considered on par
health hazard including media, diet book industry, internet ulterior motives, including with evidence-based nutrition
bloggers, etc financial gain
Societal influences on An expanded nutrition science that encompasses Found a national nutrition An unparalleled capacity for Improved Australian dietary patterns
dietary behaviour are multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral expertise to collective, representing all efficiently tackling the burden
extraordinarily complex tackle these complex issues stakeholder groups, that of malnutrition by targeting the Metric 1.5.2
and difficult to manage. will establish approaches most effective interventions Better food options in retail outlets and
They are nested within for modernising nutrition restaurants
a web of conflicting science and practice in Impact 1.5.2
attitudes, perceptions Australia. Increased common purpose Metric 1.5.3
and motives, which among different stakeholders Increased quantity and quality of
inevitably will demand through pursuing solutions that scientific outputs
that compromises, rather are mutually beneficial, such as
than pure solutions, are processed foods that are both Metric 1.5.4
achieved profitable and healthy New directions for growth in the food
industry
It’s 2030. Australia is recognised globally as a best practice model for integrating
dietary and environmental factors for the food system, which has resulted in
successful targeted interventions for health and wellness improvement.
Through a focus on the science of nutrition as a national priority, social and
environmental sciences are fully integrated with biological sciences to create
multi-system models that have resulted in evidence-based policymaking
at the intersection of health, agrifood and environment sectors.
Insights from identifying the role of societal factors in determining diet, behaviours and
health outcomes have informed approaches to achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals and equitable access to a safe and nutritious food supply for all Australians.
Background behaviour. This will complement research into diet–

nutrient–physiology interactions, with an understanding
Diet-associated health outcomes are determined by a
of why humans are prone to eating diets that expose
complex relationship between biology, behaviour and
our physiology to either healthy or unhealthy nutrient
societal environment and underpinned by issues of
intakes. An integrated approach will provide better
equity of access to nutritious food. Nutrition science
insight into the immensely complex and challenging
is concerned with the biological aspects that examine
role of societal environments in diet and nutrition, and
the effects of different patterns of food consumption
identify key control points that can feasibly be targeted
on physiology and health: the biomedical model.
to effect positive change.
This approach has driven significant advances in
understanding how nutrition influences biology, yielding An expanded model of nutrition science, as illustrated
improvements in the understanding of human dietary below, is needed. This model prioritises research into
requirements and the treatment and management of the environmental drivers of dietary behaviour and
non-communicable disease. There is more yet to do in integrates societal influences on diet with downstream
this important realm (pillars 2 and 3). biochemical, physiological and health consequences.
A model that is both interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral
However, there has been little progress in translating
can provide a framework for developing a national
nutrition research into disease prevention. Greater
nutrition collective representing many stakeholders
emphasis is needed on the societal issues that
that are instrumental in influencing the food chain,
influence dietary behaviour. The societal environment,
consumer behaviour and, ultimately, health.
including such issues as food supply policy, marketing,
education and media, plays a powerful role in Relevant stakeholders include policymakers, the
influencing dietary behaviour. Indeed, the current agrifood sector, food industry, educators, hospitality
epidemic of nutrition-related non-communicable industry, retailers and health promoters, the media
diseases has resulted not from changes in human and others who communicate messages to the lay
physiology or nutrient requirements, but from societal public. An initial and seminal step in building the
changes involving increased industrialisation and framework for a collective would be to seek national-
globalisation of food systems, among other factors. level commitment to shift towards healthier diets.
Among its many functions, the collective would mediate
There is an urgent need to broaden nutrition science to
the often-conflicting interests of different sectors to
prioritise research on the role of the complex dynamics
identify mutually beneficial ways to honour the national
of modern food environments and their effects on
Pillar 1 S ocie tal de te rmin ants
commitment to healthier Australians.
Drivers of change Nutrition science Target research

Environment
P R IO R IT Y
PR I O R IT Y
Policy · Media · Diet industry · Education · Food industry

Socioeconomics · Diet guidance · Foods/prepared meals
Drivers of change
Behaviour
Integrate
Exposure · Motivation · Capacity · Choices

Diet
Foods · Nutrients
Physiology
Health · Adaptation · Disease
PILLAR 2
NUTRITION MECHANISMS
From epidemiology to cause-and-effect relationships
Insight 2.1 Aspiration 2.1 Action 2.1.1 Impact 2.1 Metric 2.1
A new science of nutrition Australia integrates its expertise Identify the science of nutrition as a national Australia plays a major role New knowledge generates
is needed that moves away in biological, medical and other research priority in the global effort to define outcomes that are integrated
from a focus on single sciences to play a major role in the mechanisms underpinning into patient care at primary and
nutrients and commodities discovering the mechanisms by Action 2.1.2 healthy diets and dietary routes tertiary levels
to consider the interactions which nutrients and dietary patterns Enhance the profile of nutrition through to combatting all the major non-
between multiple nutrients promote health, wellness and increased NHMRC and ARC research communicable diseases
and the biological productivity funding success rates
mechanisms that define
health outcomes, and in Action 2.1.3
turn relates these to dietary Position the science of nutrition as a priority
patterns as the drivers of for the MRFF
human health, wellness
and productivity Action 2.1.4
Ensure that fit-for-purpose conceptual
and experimental frameworks, facilities,
measurement tools and modelling
capabilities are available
Insight 2.2 Aspiration 2.2 Action 2.2.1 Impact 2.2 Metric 2.2.1
Conventional nutrition Datasets on food intake and health, Identify data collection approaches that can A greater efficiency of nutrition data Evidence of increased usage
science methodologies wellness and biomarker outcomes be connected to and analysed by a national collection, analysis and linkage and linkage of data from
will be enhanced and from the national capability for capability for nutrition data across scales, from experimental to existing and new sources
integrated with web-based nutrition data are combined with population level
citizen science data laboratory and controlled clinical Action 2.2.2 Metric 2.2.2
collection methods and trials to propose, test and refine Harness methods to analyse complex and Demonstrated consilience of
complex data analyses systems-level cause-and-effect diverse data using shared national facilities evidence from different sources
mechanisms between diet and being used to shape nutrition
health/wellness policy
The combined responses The ways that diets interact with Articulate the challenge of integrating across A systems understanding of diet Australia is a leading nation
of metabolic, immune, human physiology and biochemistry diverse physiologies to define program and and health that: in the science of precision
microbiome, neural, are defined sufficiently to identify project opportunities • enables precision and nutrition (see pillar 3)
endocrine and other and demonstrate opportunities for personalised nutrition programs
systems to combinations nutrition to enhance wellness and Action 2.3.2 to prevent and manage chronic Metric 2.3.2
of nutrients and dietary productivity Provide training to higher degree research diseases and optimise health Evidence that measures of
patterns represent the next students and early- and mid-career against multiple criteria across health, equity and sustainability
great challenge in systems researchers in the science of nutrition to the life course (see pillar 3) are key currencies in the design
biology build human capacity and optimisation of the national
• informs the design of food food and nutrition system
Action 2.3.3 production and manufacturing
Ensure that fit-for-purpose facilities, systems to take account of health
measurement tools and modelling outcomes, equity, and economic
capabilities are widely available and environmental sustainability
Insight 2.4 Aspiration 2.4 Action 2.4.1 Impact 2.4.1 Metric 2.4.1
Australia is a producer of Recognition as a leader in the Plan and obtain support for measurement Australian food is associated with Increase in value of exports
all components in healthy science of nutrition provides and communication of nutritional attributes nutritional quality that can be as a result of their nutritional
diets. Nutrition credentials Australia with a market advantage of premium Australian foods tracked through the supply chain, credentials and marketing
can provide the route to in the high-value foods export as well as clean/green production
achieving premium product sector Action 2.4.2 practices Metric 2.4.2
value, particularly for Identify and realise opportunities for Increase in value of farmgate
exports premium products (foods, meals, diets) of Impact 2.4.2 production as a result
Australian origin High nutritional-value foods with of measurable nutrition
distinctively Australian attributes credentials
provide a boost to the agrifood
sector
It’s 2030. Australia’s research community has embraced nutrition as the
paradigm for integrative science, attracting many of its brightest research
scientists to the field, integrating outcomes into patient care at primary
and tertiary levels and stimulating waves of commercial innovation.
Through integration of approaches from population to molecular levels, credible
hypotheses for nutritional mechanisms influencing major non-communicable
disease prevention and human performance have been derived.
A stream of health-promoting premium products from the Australian agrifood sector
are supported by technical insights from investments in the science of nutrition.
The global recognition of Australia as a powerhouse in nutrition is an important
facet of marketing exports to a growing consumer class in Asia and beyond.
Background A crucial limitation in nutrition science is the difficulty

of measuring what people actually eat. There is an
It is well understood that diet and dietary patterns are
urgent need to develop field-validated tools and digital
complex systems. However, the existing framework
technologies for dietary assessment at population
of nutrition science research has typically used a
scale, as well as biomarkers of nutrient intake, that
reductionist approach, where single micronutrients,
can be used in cohort and clinical trials. Although
macronutrients or individual foods are tested for their
randomised control trials (RCTs) must still have a
effects on specific health outcomes and physiological
place in the assessment of dietary patterns, there is
systems. The one-variable-at-a-time study design
a need to move beyond consideration of average
largely follows that of clinical research and has
responses of the groups under study to consider
contributed to the development of food and nutrition
the variance in individual responses. Indeed, within
policies and interventions focused on individual
a group of participants there will be responders and
nutrients, commodities or foods.
non-responders to any particular intervention, in
Disentangling the potential influence on health part because of varying genotypes, epigenotypes,
outcomes of a single dietary component from these metabolic profile and environmental exposures.
other variables is challenging, if not impossible. Rather, Additionally, since RCTs are expensive, lengthy and
the focus should move towards the interactions labour intensive, a modified approach should be
between nutrients, other food constituents (such taken wherein greater data and biological samples
as dietary fibre and phytochemicals), the dynamic are collected and stored for retrospective analyses.
biological systems and mechanisms underpinning This approach should also include a qualitative arm
optimal health outcomes, and the dietary patterns that to assist with understanding people’s experience
in turn yield these healthy nutrient combinations. and perspective.
Whole diets are composed of complex mixtures of Due to advances in smartphone and web technology,
nutrients and non-nutrient chemicals. Individuals epidemiological studies have the potential to provide
consume thousands of food-derived chemicals daily in much richer datasets. This ‘living epidemiology’ that
multiple combinations. These chemicals interact with exists under the umbrella of citizen science involves
each other and with the body at many levels, including public participation and collaboration with ongoing
olfaction, taste and chemosensing, digestion and measurement in real time and storage of those
absorption, cellular metabolism for energy production, measurements (see case study of the American
fermentation by the gut microbiota and production of Gut Project). Collection of these enormous datasets
Pillar 2 N ut rit io n me chan ism s
de novo metabolites and excretion. enables both the identification of outcomes in the
short and medium term and of hypotheses for cause-
All facets of the effects of foods have the potential to
and-effect mechanisms that can also be tested under
regulate the body’s processes and lead to wellness or
more controlled conditions. Complex data analysis
the development of chronic diseases. It is becoming
is a critical enabler, making this approach both
apparent that a more holistic approach should be
timely and important.
considered when studying the interaction of diet
(foods and nutrients) with physiological, metabolic and One consequence of the realisation that whole foods
immunological systems. Such a systems approach (rather than single nutrients) are the drivers of nutrition
would result in new ways of approaching, analysing is that the ways agricultural materials are processed
and solving nutrition challenges. first into foods and then during digestion become
important. The physical structure of foods is now
understood to be intimately linked with nutritional Diet
outcomes through controlling the rate (and hence often Foods · Macro and micro nutrients · Fibre · Toxins
the site) of delivery of individual components within the Microbes · Matrix properties · Timing
gastrointestinal tract. The kinetics of food and nutrient

uptake are vital in controlling hormonal responses and Integrative nutrition
determining which parts of the diet are digested by
Gut Omics
human enzymes in the upper gastrointestinal tract and Digestion and Genomics
which become the feedstock for the gut microbiota in absorption Epigenomics
the lower tract. Microbiome Transcriptomics
Barrier function Proteomics
There has been a recent surge of interest in the gut Immunity Phosphoproteomics
Pathogens Metabolomics
microbiome as a mediator of nutritional responses. This
means that defining its dietary feedstock and the ways Modelling and data analytics
that fermentation results in influences on hormonal,
immune, neural and other physiologies is now an
Appetite Physiology
intimate part of the science of nutrition. Brain and peripheral Metabolism
control mechanisms Immunity
Our understanding of diet-related biological pathways Palatability Organ function
will continue to expand, highlighting the limitations Nutrient feedbacks Brain function
of using single surrogate outcomes to determine the Learning
Habits
health effects of any dietary factor. A systems biology
approach will enable the mapping of multiple surrogate
endpoints and establish signatures in wellness/health Health outcomes
Cardiovascular · Diabetes · Obesity · Cancer · Infection
and in disease. NAFLD · Inflammation · Autoimmune · Brain function
Behavioural syndromes · Ageing
This would involve integration of biomarkers from
gastrointestinal bacteria to host, for example, from
The components and interrelationships that need to be integrated for
saliva, blood, urine and gut microbiota, and consist of a systems understanding of diet and health, which could be used to
immunomodulatory mediators (immune cell activation, inform the design of food production and manufacturing systems to
take account of health outcomes, equity, economic and environmental
cytokine/chemokine production), metabolites (microbial, sustainability
host and food derived), vitamins, hormones and
genes that are quantitated using omics technologies
(metagenomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics,
proteomics and others), with a focus on diet
composition rather than single nutrients.
Rather than an over-reliance on RCTs that are more

suited to nutrient-level mechanisms, the combination
of data from controlled interventions, using a diverse
range of biomarkers with mechanism-of-action studies
and prospective observational studies, will be required
to derive robust mechanistic relationships between diet
and health and wellbeing.
The influence of nutrition on brain activity promises to

be another pertinent area of research during the next
decade, as signals originating from the metabolism of
foods, including via the gut microbiota, are identified
and the role of these metabolites in influencing
neural processes are determined. This will result in
dietary options for better controlling neural responses
to food, such as through chemosensory cues and
Pillar 2 Nut ritio n me cha nis ms
satiety signals.
There is great potential to identify nutrition-based

therapies and preventive treatments for chronic
neurodegeneration in the ageing population. In
addition, the role of nutrition in improving brain function
through sharper mental acuity, greater ability to
concentrate, memory retention and so on, will begin to
be understood, promising new diet-based approaches
to enhancing human capacity.

CREDIT: CARL DAVIES / CSIRO / CC-BY-3.0
CASE STUDY
THE AMERICAN GUT PROJECT
Website: www.americangut.org Through The Microsetta Initiative (microsetta.ucsd.edu),
the project links to an equivalent in Britain, the British
The American Gut Project, the world’s largest
Gut Project, and has an aggregation site in Australia
crowd-sourced research project on the microbiome,
run by Professor Phil Hugenholtz at the University of
was established in 2012. The aim was to collect a
Queensland. As of mid-2017, data has been collected
comprehensive dataset on the diversity of micro-
from more than 11 000 people, mainly from the USA,
organisms living in the gut and on the human body,
UK and Australia, along with 42 other countries or
to relate these microbial communities to health and
territories. The project and its UK affiliate have received
lifestyle and to track trends in the composition of the
more than US$2.5 million from crowdfunding, with the
microbiome across space and time.
work of the scientists supported through additional
For US$99, participants receive a kit for collecting a philanthropic and national competitive grant funding.
microbiome sample (typically stool) and a voluntary
questionnaire on general health status, disease
history, lifestyle and diet. Samples are posted to a
research team led by Professor Rob Knight in the
School of Medicine at the University of California San
Diego, who process the samples using a genetic
barcoding technique and provide participants with an
educational report detailing the microbes living in their
gut. These data are de-identified and made publicly
available to researchers worldwide in open-source
data repositories.
PILLAR 3 PRECISION AND
PERSONALISED NUTRITION
Targeted responses to foods and diets
Recent and future technological A high-level Incorporate nutritional genomics into a Australia becomes a global Number of national and state policies in
advances will allow the nutrition policy and national nutrition policy framework leader in precision nutrition and precision health that incorporate nutrition
determination of a wide range implementation plan health genomics, resulting in
of data about an individual’s provides the capacity, Action 3.1.2 improved wellbeing, greater Metric 3.1.2
genetic and biochemical capability and Incorporate nutritional genomics and productivity and more cost- Proportion of educational institutions that
makeup, as formed by their infrastructure needed precision nutrition in nutrition, health effective disease prevention and incorporate nutritional genomics and
genes, life stage, health status, to support integration professional and medical training within management for Australians, as precision nutrition in health professional
environment and lifestyle—at of nutritional genomic educational institutions well as exportable technologies and medical training
an increasingly lower cost. technology into the and programs that generate
These data can be applied to national health system Action 3.1.3 economic benefit Metric 3.1.3
help people live longer and Research the cost-effectiveness of nutritional Number of evidence-based, cost-effective
better lives by changing the genomics and precision nutrition precision nutrition treatments and
way we prevent, diagnose, programs translated into the health sector
treat and monitor both illness
and wellness
Insight 3.2 Aspiration 3.2 Action 3.2.1 Impact 3.2.1 Metric 3.2.1
A plethora of genetic, biological Australia is a world Increase literacy in the use of the tools of Nutrition researchers develop Australia’s ranking and growth in
and phenotypic data requires leader in cutting-edge information technology (such as the Internet innovative methods and tools numbers of peer-reviewed precision and
technology tools to synthesise nutrition data science of Things, artificial intelligence and machine in data analytics, research personalised nutrition publications
and realise the potential of and technology learning) in nutrition and health education design, health informatics and
precision and personalised that turns data into programs bioinformatics Metric 3.2.2
health and nutrition in action and improves Citation ranking of Australian researchers
improving wellbeing and the quality and Action 3.2.2 Impact 3.2.2 in precision and personalised nutrition
reducing and treating diet- cost-effectiveness of Increase literacy in genetics, genomics and Tertiary nutrition education in international information technology
related disease treatment, disease bioinformatics from secondary education teaches integration of systems journals
prevention and health onwards biology with non-biological
optimisation systems
Action 3.2.3
Incorporate nutritional genomics as a Impact 3.2.3
core subject in tertiary nutrition health Researchers and health
professional programs professionals are proficient in
mainstream and state-of-the-art
Action 3.2.4 point-of-care biological and
Foster cross-disciplinary research with areas behavioural measurement tools
such as computer science, information that provide data at individual
science and technology, engineering and and population levels
health economics
Insight 3.3 Aspiration 3.3.1 Action 3.3.1 Impact 3.3.1 Metric 3.3.1
Participation in self-health Australia has achieved Ensure that researchers and ethical boards High level of literacy in Number of research projects that engage
management by consumers ethical, legal and prioritise keeping abreast of technological information technologies and consumers in the planning process
and patients is a rapidly socially just precision shifts in digital tools and genomics to biological applications relevant
growing feature of a more and personalised maintain the ability to guard privacy and to precision and personalised Metric 3.3.2
democratised health system, nutrition solutions confidentiality and maintain trust nutrition, leading to ethical, legal Number of nutrition training programs
where the person is better and socially just research ethics that address the ethics of precision and
informed through greater Aspiration 3.3.2 Action 3.3.2 applications and approvals personalised nutrition
health and nutrition literacy The ethics of precision Encourage researchers to actively engage
and demands more control and personalised the public in precision and personalised Impact 3.3.2 Metric 3.3.3
of decisions relating to their nutrition is a core research and discourse The Australian public has a Number of nutrition training programs
health and wellbeing competency in all high level of engagement, trust that incorporate data privacy in research
fields of nutrition Action 3.3.3 and literacy in precision and methodology
training and education Develop professional policies regarding personalised nutrition and data
human–subject research, data privacy, privacy
clinical practice standards and public health
goals in precision and personalised nutrition Impact 3.3.3
Effective multidisciplinary and
Action 3.3.4 public collaborations inform
Embed cross-disciplinary ethical analysis future research, foster public
(for example, between law, social science, trust and engagement and
humanities, political science and the public) develop responsive law and
into collaborations from inception policy regarding emerging
technologies
Private investment in individual Australia is a global Cultivate evidence-based responsible Australian researchers have High level of literacy in the science and
and population health and leader in evidence- research and innovation to best serve public a high level of literacy in the commercialisation of precision and
wellness technologies is based precision safety and health through: science and commercialisation personalised nutritech research
growing, with a wide range and personalised i. fostering training and research in of precision and personalised
of tech investors and venture nutritech products and precision and personalised nutrition nutritech research Metric 3.4.2
capitalists making significant services that improve Increased number of researchers in
contributions. Australia has individual and public ii. ensuring ongoing independent evaluation Impact 3.4.2 precision and personalised nutritech fields
the opportunity to capture the health and safety, for and synthesis of commercial precision Increased number of funded
health and economic benefits both Australian and and personalised nutritech products research projects related to Metric 3.4.3
of a rapidly growing precision international markets iii. promotion of commercial and science precision and personalised A science platform established with
and personalised nutritech partnerships to foster innovation nutrition and nutritech ongoing evidence-based precision and
sector in evidence-based precision and applications personalised nutritech products
personalised nutritech products
iv. developing sustainable and independent Impact 3.4.3 Metric 3.4.4
precision and personalised nutrition Increased number of Increased numbers of evidence-based
science platforms that assess and researchers in the science and precision and personalised nutritech
synthesise data on an ongoing dynamic commercialisation of precision products with business models that
basis and personalised nutrition and achieve positive health and economic
nutritech research outcomes
v. ensuring researcher transparency by
disclosing conflict of interests of all Impact 3.4.4 Metric 3.4.5
involved parties Increased number of Increase in products and commercial
vi. ensuring decisions are informed by evidence-based precision and revenue from evidence-based nutritech
scientific evaluation of the available personalised nutrition products products
evidence in cases where insurance
coverage of precision and personalised Impact 3.4.5 Metric 3.4.6
nutrition products services is proposed Health and economic Numbers of successful nutritech
evaluation of commercialised businesses with domestic and/or global
evidence-based precision and reach
personalised nutrition and
nutritech products
Pillar 3 Precis ion and p erso nalis ed nu trit ion
It’s 2030. Australia is a leader in the science and technology of

precision and personalised nutrition, resulting in health outcomes
that benefit Australians and a vibrant, growing nutritech industry.
By adopting precision nutrition approaches in the healthcare system,
benefits have been realised in the greater use of targeted dietary
interventions, which has reduced the burden of chronic diseases.
The Australian nutritech sector has developed a suite of measurement,
diagnostic and advisory tools that have been successful worldwide,
enhancing the nation’s reputation in the medical technology sector.
Background in improving or preventing disease in clinical settings
as they do in optimising health and wellness. A culture
We are in an era that has seen the advancement of
focused on maintaining and improving health and
genomic and information science and technologies
wellness is emerging, fostered by government as well
lead to an explosion of data (on genes, metabolites,
as the food, healthtech and nutritech industries. It is
environment and lifestyle) and associated analytics that
important to note that precision nutrition solutions are
allows more sophisticated healthcare solutions with
no different to those for population nutrition, that is,
greater precision. These developments are leading
they are likely to be based on dietary patterns rather
to a new, efficient and innovative health economy,
than individual nutrients or foods.
resulting in more cost-effective health and disease
management. The accessibility of web-based health
Precision and personalised nutrition:
and medical knowledge is shifting the balance of health
definition and technology enablers
management towards the consumer and patient, who
are becoming empowered and engaged in their own The technologies that lead the development of
health management. precision and personalised nutrition are phenotype-
validated genetics, genomics and microbiome
The US and Europe have strategic long-term priorities
datasets. However, the innovations are not limited to
in precision health and medical research, including
the biological dimensions alone, as technologies that
policies and substantial public investment. The
precisely describe environmental and behavioural
following reports have been produced in Australia:
characteristics (such as the Global Positioning System)
• The future of precision medicine in Australia, are important features of the health informatics
published in 2018 by the Australian Council of ecosystem. Additionally, technology tools (such as
Learned Academies: acola.org/hs2-precision- mobile applications, machine learning and virtual
medicine-australia reality) and continuous real-time biological data (such
as glucose and blood pressure) provide opportunities
• Medical technologies and pharmaceuticals
for both better management of health data and
roadmap, published in 2017 by CSIRO
improved population experience and literacy in
Futures: www.csiro.au/en/Do-business/
health and nutrition.
Futures/Reports/Medical-Technologies-and-
Pharmaceuticals-Roadmap A focus on precision and personalised nutrition
will result in:
• The national health genomics policy framework
2018–2021, published in 2017 by the Council • new methods in data analytics and bio and health
of Australian Governments Health Council: www. informatics (such as machine learning and dynamic
coaghealthcouncil.gov.au/Publications/Reports Bayesian modelling)
Private investment in medical and health technologies • new research design methodologies
is also growing, with non-traditional health investors
• integration of systems biology with non-
such as Google, Microsoft and venture capitalists
biological systems
making significant contributions. It has been suggested
that, with the leap in biotechnology investment and a • proficiency in mainstream and state-of-the-
sharp drop in pharmaceutical investment, investors are art point of care
now turning to population health, wellness apps and
• biological and behavioural measurement tools
at-home or on-the-go wellness monitoring.
that provide real-time data at individual and
Pillar 3 Pre cisio n an d p erso na lis ed n ut rit io n
Nutrition science, as a key driver of health, has collective levels

also been developing and adopting the tools of
• new tech tools, such as genomic platforms
personalisation and precision, which apply equally well
(SNPedia, Ensembl, etc.), mobile applications,
Chron
ic burden products and services that curate and facilitate
Pre
re cis data analytics.
ca io
d
n
te
he
gra
Definitions
alt
Inte
hca
Personalised Nutrition (n=1)

re
D e v elo pin g m
Preserve or increase health using genetic, phenotypic,

b i o s e c u rit y
medical, nutritional and other relevant information

about individuals to deliver more specific and effective
nutritional guidance, products and services.
b al
ark
Precision Nutrition (n=groups/populations)

G lo
ets
Di Preserve or increase health using genetic, phenotypic,

g it ro
nt
l
al o medical, nutritional and other relevant information

evo rc
l u ti o n me
C o nsu about groups and populations to deliver more tailored
and cost-effective interventions, products and services.
A personalised and integrated approach to public health

Dr Emma Beckett is exploring the genetic secrets behind
microbiomes and whether you really are what you eat.
CREDIT: EDDIE O’REILLY©
PILLAR 4 EDUCATION AND
RESEARCH TRAINING
Insight 4.1 Aspiration 4.1 Action 4.1.1 Impact 4.1 Metric 4.1
There are many and varied Nutrition professionals, supported All professional nutritionists The public can easily identify Statutory title for nutrition
groups that provide a ‘cacophony by a national trusted voice, are undertake competency-based nutrition professionals and have professionals with a single code of
of noise’ from which consumers the source of food and nutrition education confidence in their fitness to conduct
must synthesise the ‘truth’ about advice practice and scope of practice
food and nutrition Action 4.1.2
All nutrition courses adopt a code
of ethics and their graduates are
fit to practice
There is a need to communicate The general public has a greater Harness the scope and reach Greater unity and impact achieved Nutrition professionals measure their
the complexity of nutrition with a understanding of the complexity of social media, the internet through understanding consumer engagement and effectiveness by
unified voice of nutrition science and its impact and other mass communication behaviour and improved changes in the public’s diet quality
on their food choices and dietary channels to enable nutrition engagement with consumer
patterns professionals to communicate groups and sub-groups
to the public effectively and
efficiently
Insight 4.3 Aspiration 4.3.1 Action 4.3 Impact 4.3 Metric 4.3
Nutrition education for the whole, Every Australian has a basic Integrate nutrition education, The public has a basic knowledge A high level of food literacy and food
broader population is required understanding of cooking skills, including food skills, across all of nutrition and greater skills in skills in the population
nutrition and how their food formal education (early childhood, synthesising and applying this
choices and dietary patterns school, TAFE and tertiary) knowledge to their food choices
impact their long-term health and
that of their family
Aspiration 4.3.2
The public have a greater
understanding of the complexity
of nutrition science and its impact
on their food choices and dietary
patterns
Upskilling nutrition professionals Researchers actively engage the Ensure evidence-based teaching, Nutrition professionals engage All accredited courses include learning
is required in emerging research public in nutrition research and including societal determinants and influence the public with outcomes that reflect new nutrition
areas that impact on practice discourse and the ethics of precision and messages about evidence-based research methodologies, including
and public understanding of the personalised nutrition, as core nutrition societal determinants, nutritional
science of nutrition competencies in all accredited genomics and complex data analysis
and professional development
courses
The number of nutrition Australia is seen as the leader Develop clear career pathways There is a greater number of Increased proportion of nutrition
professionals in Australia is small. in the education and training of and opportunities in research, nutrition professionals trained and professionals with higher degrees and
Career pathways appear limited nutrition researchers, educators public health and advocacy roles retained in the workforce demonstrable competence in research
and lack clarity and public health nutritionists for and/or public health
the Asia-Pacific region Action 4.5.2
Develop a training framework Metric 4.5.2
of competency from basic to Increased number of nutrition
advanced levels in line with these professionals with nationally awarded
career pathways competitive fellowships
Insight 4.6 Aspiration 4.6 Action 4.6 Impact 4.6 Metric 4.6.1
Leadership paradigms are A network of nutrition leaders Incorporate leadership training in Enhanced ability to operationalise Increased number of nutrition
changing from residing in single skilled in complex and adaptive professional development courses nutrition policies and strategies professionals in leadership positions
disciplines and individuals thinking, with foresight, by leveraging existing nutrition that will impact health and
to leadership as a collective, broad vision and who work leadership platforms, such as wellbeing for all Metric 4.6.2
multidisciplinary process collaboratively across disciplines the Oceanic Nutrition Leadership Increased number of outputs/
throughout networks of people. and sectors to positively influence Platform outcomes from collaborative activities
Leadership training, capacity food systems and nutrition
development and ongoing Metric 4.6.3
support networks are necessary Increased number of multi-disciplinary/
features of a strong nutrition multi-sector collaborations (such as
workforce working groups, coalitions, etc.)
It’s 2030. Improved population diet quality through informed food
choices has been achieved by optimal communication of the science
of nutrition, through consistent evidence-based messages and by
understanding and harnessing contemporary communication channels.
By upskilling established nutrition professionals in new
opportunities arising from data analytics, genomics and other
omics and digital technologies, Australia has a workforce
capable of delivering a new era of opportunity for the science
of nutrition, with diverse and rewarding career pathways.
An academy of nutrition has been established that brings together
nutrition professionals and credentialing bodies, is recognisable
to the public and adopts a common code of conduct.
High-quality nutrition educators are providing education and
training resources to all regions of Australia and its international
neighbours. Australia actively supports the nutritional health
of the Asia-Pacific region with a workforce that has advanced
capabilities and competencies in the translation of nutrition
science into practice, public health policy and planning,
advocacy skills, systems thinking and communication skills.
Nutrition education is provided to key professionals of broad
disciplines, including education (teaching youth to improve
food and nutrition literacy) and health professionals (who
have exposure to more individuals than nutrition professionals
alone). Basic nutrition knowledge is integrated into curricula
Pillar 4 E ducat ion an d rese arch t ra ining
across primary, secondary and tertiary education.

A network has been established of nutrition leaders skilled
in complex and adaptive thinking, with foresight and broad
vision, who work collaboratively across disciplines and
sectors to positively influence food systems and nutrition.
Background consumers must synthesise the ‘truth’. Consumers are
confused. Nutrition science needs to regain their trust
Within the context of the global burden of disease, poor
through consistent and credible communication, in
dietary patterns are responsible for more deaths than
part to counteract the volume and persuasiveness of
any other modifiable risk factor in non-communicable
commercial food advertising.
disease, excluding smoking. High body mass index
and metabolic conditions such as hyperglycaemia There is currently no formal accreditation of nutrition
and hypertension may be preventable and treatable science programs in Australia, although the UK
by optimising dietary patterns and increasing activity Association for Nutrition can accredit international
across the population. programs. This enables Australian graduates to apply
for registration as a nutritionist in the UK and Europe.
Certain life stages, such as during pregnancy and
early life, are important windows of opportunity for To ensure minimum standards of education for nutrition
nutritional interventions to have the greatest impact on graduates, competencies need to be embedded in the
an individual’s lifelong health prospects, that of their nutrition science curriculum. Low-level competencies
children, on human capital and for national economic (such as knowledge and assessment of evidence)
prosperity. Despite the potential for dietary patterns should be included in the education and ongoing
to have substantial impact on health outcomes, the training curriculum for all health professionals, including
low adoption of an optimal ‘dietary pattern for health’ those in the care sector.
indicates that communication of nutrition science is not
There is a clear need for the growth of nutrition
yet succeeding.
professionals in Australia who are capable of delivering
on the goals of the decadal plan. Currently, there are
Communicating with a trusted voice several organisations in Australia that register nutrition
Developing the expertise and reputation of nutritionists professionals. There is some overlap in membership of
as trusted sources of nutrition information is vital. A these peak bodies.
new unified regulatory system will evolve that aims to
• The Nutrition Society of Australia’s (NSA)
protect the public from poor advice from unqualified
registration process is based on educational
individuals or those outside their scope of practice in
attainment and practical experience, with plans to
differing parts of the nutrition workforce.
strengthen the competency basis of assessment.
Gaining the public’s trust in scientists with recognised In 2019 the NSA had 282 registered nutritionists
nutrition qualifications is crucial to the success of the from a total membership of more than 1000 and an
decadal plan’s proposed trusted voice. There is a additional 38 fellows—members who have made
need for the public to recognise and differentiate the substantial contributions to the scientific study of
qualifications of scientifically educated professionals so nutrition and/or its applications.
they can make an informed choice.
• The Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)
Developing the profession of nutrition scientist will is Australia’s peak body for dietitians, with 6900
require a common title and a code of conduct to members and many other dietitians who are not
ensure professional standards are identifiable and members of their professional body. DAA is involved
upheld. Pivotal to this is the necessity for a code of in the accreditation of all Australian courses,
conduct that supports and regulates professional which gives graduates a pathway to becoming an
behaviour and ensures public safety and confidence. accredited practicing dietitian. Through its board
This code includes recognition that not all nutrition and its members, DAA plays a key advocacy role in
scientists are trained in all aspects of nutrition care, promoting the nutritional health of all Australians.
but minimum standards and recognition of scope of
• The UK-based Association for Nutrition (AfN)
Pillar 4 Educat ion an d res earch tra inin g
practice are crucial.

offers international registration credentials; currently
Nutrition is a multidisciplinary science; outcomes from there are 12 Australians registered with the AfN
dietary patterns are intertwined with an individual’s and one fellow.
physiological and genetic traits. One size does not
The science of nutrition is not static, but constantly
fit all. Added to this milieu of communication is the
evolving. In contrast to medical models for treatment
problem of those with no evidence-based nutrition
of a single disease, food (as the vehicle for nutrition)
training providing advice and using social and other
is consumed by all and exists in a complex system
media to guide the public towards inappropriate diets.
from agriculture (dependent on environment) and
Those groups and individuals who do not follow a code
food processing, to the supermarket, the home and
of ethical practice and are not bound by evidence-
catering industries.
based paradigms should be countered by credible,
consistent messages that are guided by ethical practice An individual’s food choices are influenced by a
and scientific evidence. multiplicity of factors: taste preferences are usually
followed by cost, but include other social and
Currently, nutrition science communication suffers
economic considerations such as availability, marketing,
from many and varied groups with vested interests
individual’s nutrition knowledge, cooking skills, cultural
who provide a cacophony of noise from which

and religious beliefs, attitudes and motivations. This may play a central role in educating the public to
requires nutrition professionals to understand a wide improve health literacy and minimise distribution
scope of nutrition science applications and to be and acceptance of misinformation. Nutrition science
capable of embracing and communicating complexity. professionals have a key role to play in dissemination
Scaffolding of skills, knowledge and development of nutrition education to other health professionals.
of competence across different areas and levels This will increase the capacity of the current
means that universal adoption of competency-based health workforce to impact the nutritional health of
education is essential. the population.
Any consideration of nutrition education communication These professions include:

should include the following:
• medical doctors and dental practitioners
• an understanding of the limitations of nutrition
• nurses, midwives, maternal and child health
research at each level of the food and nutrition
specialists and community care workers
system (namely, a laboratory model does not directly
translate to a human diet, and associations found in • allied health professionals (including pharmacists,
a cohort study of a population may not translate to physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech
individualised care. Therefore, while each nutritionist and language therapists, exercise physiologists, and
will not necessarily have skills across the whole clinical psychologists)
breadth of the food and nutrition system, they will
• early childcare educators and teachers (primary and
understand where their work and research fits
secondary education)
and the requirement for their roles to recognise
and network with other parts of the nutrition • technical and further education teachers (such as
professional system.) chefs, personal trainers and allied health assistants).
• a requirement for knowledge and skills in A plan for nutrition education therefore operates
communication of evidence-based science at all levels to disseminate consistent and credible
messages that emerge from the national capability for
• the development of recognised professionalism,
nutrition data—for all Australians.
including a code of conduct within the
nutrition workforce. Structures are required to attract and educate a
workforce capable of meeting the many different
A competent workforce will contain individuals whose
challenges that a systems approach requires.
breadth of expertise will span all aspects of the food
Workforce competency needs are multifaceted
chain and who can engage with stakeholders at all
due to the multidisciplinary nature of nutrition as a
levels. While individuals working in nutrition may not
science and the need for translation into individual
deal with all levels (a laboratory scientist will not have to
behaviour change, alongside whole population shifts
give individual dietary advice, for example), it is crucial
in food consumption supported by implementation of
that nutrition systems are understood to ensure the
supportive policy. By adopting a systems approach to
science is reflexive and individuals understand their
education, Australia can strengthen its own capabilities
role in the system.
and position itself to produce nutritionists with the
There is a pressing need to educate nutrition scientists necessary underpinning knowledge and skills and be a
with currency of knowledge in newer methodologies leading education provider to the Asia-Pacific region.
that can be applied to nutrition, such as nutrigenomics,
bioinformatics, proteomics and so on, to conduct
ground-breaking research of the highest quality.
The ability to communicate and translate findings
Pillar 4 E ducat ion an d rese arch t ra ining
into practical solutions is crucial for delivering

the decadal plan.
Capacity building must include education in the skills

needed for interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary work,
such as health economists evaluating outcomes of
nutrition intervention, identifying and counteracting
societal and commercial drives towards unhealthy
diets, and doctors and dietitians trained in interpreting
personalised genetic traits and markers. Nutrition
scientists who are capable and credible communicators
should be nurtured, to enable consumers to make
informed decisions on food and nutrition.
In addition to those who may currently identify as

nutrition scientists or have all or part of their profession
underpinned by nutrition science, other professionals
THE WAY FORWARD
This decadal plan sets out a strategy for 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, and
three major recommendations of a national research priority, national
capability for nutrition data and trusted voice.
The way forward includes developing detailed governance structures
and business cases for the establishment and sustainable resourcing
of the national capability for nutrition data and trusted voice, and
scoping major initiatives consistent with a national research priority.
Extensive consultation with the nutrition community during the
development of the decadal plan was crucial in arriving at a common
understanding of the challenges and opportunities and in providing a
forum for the development of national collaborations across the broad
scope of the science of nutrition. Turning this plan from aspiration
to operation will similarly involve the concerted action of all major
stakeholders in the science of nutrition who share the vision that
Australia can—and should—be recognised as a major global player in
the discipline.
Th e way f o rward
CREDIT: DREW HAYS / UNSPLASH / PUBLIC DOMAIN

GLOSSARY
Agrifood The commercial production of food by farming
Bioinformatics The interdisciplinary combination of biology, computer science, information
engineering, mathematics and statistics to analyse and interpret biological data
Consilience Agreement between the approaches to a topic of different academic subjects,
especially science and the humanities
Dietary pattern The quantities, proportions, frequency, timing, variety or combination of different foods,
drinks and nutrients habitually consumed
Epigenotypes The heritable patterns of gene expression outside the actual sequence of DNA.
Encompasses the specific set of epigenetic marks peculiar to different cells, which
determines their fate (i.e. whether they will be brain or bone or adipose tissue, etc.)
Genotypes The set of gene variations in DNA that is responsible for a particular trait, e.g. gene
variations that result in height or eye colour
Nutritech Technology applications for nutrition and health solutions
Nutrition literacy The ability to obtain, understand and apply basic nutrition, diet and health information
Nutrition science and The knowledge of relationships between foods, dietary patterns and health at the
science of nutrition biological and societal level
Nutrition security A community’s ongoing ability to access a food supply that contains all essential
nutrients for good health, not just calories
Omics A field of study in biology in which the entire complement of molecules is determined,
such as genes, proteins or metabolites
Omics technologies The techniques used to determine the universal detection of genes (genomics),
mRNA (transcriptomics), proteins (proteomics), lipidomics (lipids) or metabolites
(metabolomics) in a specific biological sample
Phenotype The physical expression or characteristics of a trait, e.g. tall height or blue/brown eyes
Precision nutrition The development of more effective nutrition and health solutions by targeting a
combination of an individual’s genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors
Systems biology A holistic approach to biological research using computational and mathematical
analysis, and modelling of complex biological systems and their interactions
ABBREVIATIONS
AfN Association for Nutrition www.associationfornutrition.org
ARC Australian Research Council www.arc.gov.au
CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation www.csiro.au
DAA Dieticians Association of Australia daa.asn.au
MRFF Medical Research Future Fund
beta.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/medical-research-future-fund
NAFLD Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
NHMRC National Health and Medical Research Council www.nhmrc.gov.au
NSA Nutrition Society of Australia nsa.asn.au
RCT Randomised control trial
SDGs Sustainable Development Goals sustainabledevelopment.un.org
Glos sa ry
TAFE Technical and further education

UN United Nations
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NATIONAL COMMITTEE AUSTRALIAN

FOR NUTRITION ACADEMY OF SCIENCE July 2019

NATIONAL COMMITTEE AUSTRALIAN

Expert Working Group

National Committee for Nutrition

© Australian Academy of Science 2019

ISBN 978 0 85847 676 9

A digital version of this plan can be downloaded from: www.science.org.au/nourishing-australia

Nutrition science globally, nationally, locally  7

Nutrition science and the Sustainable Development Goals  9

Recommendations and implementation actions  11

Pillar 1 Societal determinants  14

Pillar 2 Nutrition mechanisms  16

Pillar 3 Precision and personalised nutrition  20

Pillar 4 Education and research training  24

The way forward  28

N ou ris h in g Au st r a l i a : a deca da l pl an f o r t he s c i en c e o f n ut r i t i on III

Melinda Coughlan David Raubenheimer

Consultancy fees/honoraria: 14th International Grants: Australian Research Council, National

Dietitian), Nutrition Society of Australia, British Dietetic

Professional memberships: Nutrition Society of

IV Nou rishing Au st ra lia : a d e ca da l p lan f o r t he s c i en c e o f n ut r i t i o n

The process for plan development involved:

The first event in support of the decadal plan was the

CREDIT: LUKAS BUDIMAIER / UNSPLASH / PUBLIC DOMAIN

Dr TJ Higgins AO FAA FTSE

CREDIT: MICHAEL JOHN HOOD 2013 © / 100 FACES OF SCIENCE

VI Nou rishing Au st ra lia : a d e ca da l p lan f o r t he s c i en c e o f n ut r i t i o n

• engages a diversity of disciplines to identify system leverage points, intervention and

Professor Mike Gidley

Professor Stephen Simpson AC FAA FRS

Co-chair, Decadal Plan Expert Working Group

VIII Nou rishing Au st ra lia : a d e ca da l p lan f o r t he s c i en c e o f n ut r i t i o n

• helping to achieve global targets such as the UN

National research priority

Pillar 1 Pillar 2 Pillar 3 Efficient and equitable

Science Improved diets that

To achieve these benefits and more,

These platforms support and are

AUSTRALIAN NUTRITION SCIENCE PLAYS A KEY ROLE

all Australians and of diet–health of integrated, cross- drive community, public

2 Nou rishing Au st ra lia : a d e ca da l p lan f o r t he s c i en c e o f n ut r i t i o n

• assessment and monitoring of food

• Developing capacity of the nutrition workforce,

The era of opportunity for the science of nutrition

Population nutrition Discovery opportunities

Driving the science of nutrition through integration across disciplines

Nutrition as the integration between environmental,

A framework for the agri-food system that enables predictable interventions

Mechanisms by which diets influence human biology

Measurement · Complex data analysis · Modelling · Mechanisms

Biochemistry · Analytical chemistry · Physiology · Material science · Cell biology · Psychology

4 Nou rishing Au st ra lia : a d e ca da l p lan f o r t he s c i en c e o f n ut r i t i o n

Every country in the Six of the top nine Nearly 4 in 5 9 in 10

More than half the Every $1 invested in A quarter of Two-thirds of

6 Nou rishing Au st ra lia : a d e ca da l p lan f o r t he s c i en c e o f n ut r i t i o n

A framework for the agrifood system

Becoming a leading nation for development

Training the future workforce in the

8 Nou rishing Au st ra lia : a d e ca da l p lan f o r t he s c i en c e o f n ut r i t i o n

Nutrition science globally, nationally, locally 7

Nutrition science and the Sustainable Development Goals 9

Recommendations and implementation actions 11

Pillar 1 Societal determinants 14

Pillar 2 Nutrition mechanisms 16

Pillar 3 Precision and personalised nutrition 20

Pillar 4 Education and research training 24

The way forward 28