To meet the diet and nutrition related SDGs and other international and regional commitments will require coordinated and intentional joint actions along all domains of food systems from production to consumption.  The transition to healthy diets, requires diets to become more diverse (in terms of variety of nutritious foods within and across food groups), adequate (in terms of quantity of essential nutrients and nutritious foods including sufficient amounts of fruits, vegetables animal and aquatic foods, pulses and whole grains ), balanced (in terms of energy intake and energy sources)  and moderated (in consumption of foods, nutrients or other compounds associated with detrimental health effects such as ultra-processed foods). Actions along one value chain, one sector or one domain of food systems, will not be enough to achieve impact on Nutrition, Health and Food Security. Collaboration across all CGIAR Science programs and Accelerators is therefore crucial to ensure food, land and water systems transformation (FST) deliver better diets and nutrition for all, in support of global nutrition goals.

This research workshop, co-organized by the Better Diets and Nutrition Science program in collaboration with Science Programs and Accelerators and other partners, illustrating the broad partnerships needed for nutrition research, science, and  delivery for impact. The session  will provide an overview of CGIAR Diet and Nutrition commitments across the new portfolio in line with global priorities in this area. The workshop will review principles of a healthy diet and pathways for nutrition-sensitive agriculture interventions implemented by various partners within CGIAR Science programs and accelerators and beyond to achieve and measure impact on diets.

The Better Diets and Nutrition (BDN) Science Program seeks to harness momentum across the CGIAR to accelerate progress in achieving sustainable healthy diets for all. To accomplish this goal, this workshop will also introduce the idea for  a  CGIAR Working Group for Better Diets and Nutrition, drawn from across all CGIAR Science Programs and Accelerators. During this workshop we will solicit interest and discuss co-ordination modalities for delivering impact on diets and nutrition through the intentional consideration of pathways toward improving diets and nutrition across the CGIAR 2030 Research  Portfolio.  We invite each  Science Programme and Accelerator to nominate one (or more) participants for this session. An ideal nominee has a background in nutrition, food science, public health or similar discipline, but anyone with an interest in collaborating to meet CGIAR impact targets for diet and nutrition goals is welcome.

Session objectives;

Provide an overview of CGIAR Better Diets and Nutrition program, including principles of a healthy diet

Using a World Cafe approach guided by case studies, learn and brainstorm on the connectivity across CGIAR Science Programmes/Accellerators in achieving Better Diets and Nutrition Goals

Discuss objectives of a CGIAR Diets and Nutrition working group

Discuss modalities for creating an active working group to report on Diet/Nutrition progress across the CGIAR