ORCID

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Introduction: Nutrition and dietetics professionals are vital to food systems transformation; however, the integration of sustainable food systems and planetary health curricula in tertiary education remains inadequate. This article presents the NURTURE framework, a curriculum tool designed in collaboration with an Indigenous artist to support educators in preparing future professionals to address global planetary crises.Methods: The framework organises 35 curriculum concepts previously identified by stakeholders across 27 countries as relevant for entry-level nutrition and dietetics professionals. Drawing on holistic educational models and Indigenous worldviews that emphasise the interconnected relationships between humans and nature, researchers mapped the concepts to four domains from an existing model: Heart, Head, Hands, and Feet, via independent blinded analysis and a consensus-building workshop. Through a process of co-construction, an Indigenous artist then visualised these concepts using paint on canvas.Results: The NURTURE framework (Nutrition professionals’ Understanding, Reflective values, Translational skills, Utilising systems thinking, Responsible leadership, and Evidence-based action) establishes values-led pedagogy (HEART—affective concepts) as the foundation for knowledge (HEAD—cognitive concepts), practical competence (HANDS—psychomotor concepts), and evidence-based action (FEET—agency concepts). The model prioritises diverse knowledge systems and systems thinking to develop the competencies needed to navigate complex food system trade-offs.Discussion: The NURTURE framework aims to support nutrition and dietetics educators to cultivate planetary empathy through deep learning and whole-person pedagogical approaches, prioritising Indigenous values-based philosophies. This adaptable curriculum tool will be applied and refined across diverse geographical contexts globally to advance sustainable food systems and planetary health education.

Publication Date

2026-09-11

Publication Title

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

Volume

10

Acceptance Date

2026-07-21

Deposit Date

2026-09-12

Funding

The author(s) declared that financial support was received for this work and/or its publication. This study utilised funding from Monash University’s Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, via a previous planetary health education fellowship. This funded the lead author to coordinate this project and the artists’ renumeration.

Keywords

curriculum framework, higher education, Indigenous knowledges, nutrition and dietetics, planetary health, sustainable food systems

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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