Human population is expected to grow by around 2 billion people by 2050 which could result in a global issue on the adequacy of food quantity and quality for the population, while maintaining sustainable environmental conditions . Global food system must consider environmental limitations to prevent negative consequences, not only to the earth but also to people’s food and nutrition security. At the same time, attention must be given to the changing food consumption patterns of a growing population while protecting and remediating the environment.

As has been defined, environmental nutrition “emerged from the importance of simultaneous consideration of the complex interactions within the food system, health, and environment”. Environmental nutrition allows comprehensive understanding on the interlinked between food and health, since it considers social, political, economic, and environmental factors related to the food system as a whole. On the other hand, the conventional food system impends people and environment’s health and overall well-being through increased air and water pollution, toxic chemical exposures, antibiotic resistant bacteria, soil erosion, climate change from greenhouse gas emissions, and loss of biodiversity .

Public health focus needs to be expanded by including environmental nutrition through dialogue and research in the global food system, covering food production, food consumption, and nutrition policy. A holistic perspective by integrating assessment of these aspects is essential to develop policies that ensure all of the stages from food production to post consumption are consistent and supporting global-health-promoting, environmental-conservancy agenda1. Promoting the consumption of a healthy diet is good at the individual level but adopting an environmental nutrition approach that focuses on a collective social responsibility for creating a healthy and sustainable food system is worth pursuing.

While past studies have provided some basis for understanding the relationships among food systems, health and nutrition, and environment, new research findings are coming in as new issues and gaps continue to emerge in these relationships. Thus, SEAMEO RECFON thought of organizing its Second International Conference on Food and Nutrition (ICFN) focusing on environmental nutrition with the theme “Understanding the Gains, Challenges, and Opportunities in Environmental Nutrition Research, Programs and Policies in Southeast Asia”.

This conference is expected to produce the following outputs:

1. Summary of papers and posters presented related to environmental nutrition as conference proceedings.
2. Policy recommendations for relevant stakeholders on environmental nutrition based on the papers and posters presented.
3. Publication of selected papers presented in an international peer reviewed journal.

This conference is expected to be attended by students, researchers, university lecturers, development program implementers, industry managers, and decision makers from government and private sectors in Southeast Asia and beyond, including SEAMEO RECFON’s Governing Board Members.

1. Impacts of food system to the environment for food and nutrition security
2. Impacts of people’s food consumption habits to the environmental integrity and health
3. Physical and Social food environmental influences on people’s food consumption habits and nutritional/health outcomes
4. Ensuring food security and safety during natural disasters and emergencies
5. Indigenous biodiversity and locally available food sources for health and nutrition improvement
6. Models and trends in environmental nutrition and sustainable diet

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l1THXi7B5IyKoqFdgBREENXBSueOJDoErERX2kR2lMI/edit

All abstracts will be included in the conference proceedings as an ISBN registered publication while selected and accepted orally presented papers will be published in a Scopus indexed journal.