Nutritional Sciences
University of Toronto
The plenary introduction will outline the most pressing challenges at the intersection of food production, environmental change and population health. It will make the case for planetary health as a foundational pillar of modern dietary guidance, moving beyond a sole focus on nutrient adequacy and clinical outcomes. Environmental impact, food system resilience and ecological stability must be considered alongside human health. The session will explore sustainability across environmental integrity, social equity, economic viability and long-term food security, and how these dimensions intersect with nutritional adequacy and public well-being. It will highlight the dual burden of environmentally intensive food systems and rising diet-related chronic disease. The closing segment will translate these concepts into practical, evidence-informed strategies for counseling, institutional menu planning, procurement decisions and community-level initiatives that support measurable, scalable change.
Dr. Nanci Guest is a nutritional sciences researcher, registered dietitian, international speaker, strength and conditioning coach and veganic, regenerative farmer. She has worked in private practice for more than two decades and earned two Bachelor of Science degrees and a Master of Science at the University of British Columbia in agricultural science, dietetics/kinesiology and nutritional sciences. Dr. Guest completed her PhD and postdoctoral fellowship in nutritional sciences at the University of Toronto. Some of her postdoctoral research focused on plant-based nutrition for sport, environmental sustainability, and climate change mitigation. She also develops and teaches online courses in plant-based sport nutrition and sustainable agriculture at the University of Guelph. In addition to her academic and clinical work, Dr. Guest actively farms using veganic, regenerative principles, advancing soil health and plant-based agricultural systems that align with her sustainability research. Over a 25-year career, she has worked extensively with elite and professional athletes as a sport nutrition expert, advocating plant-focused dietary strategies. Most recently, she served as an expert panel member supporting and co-authoring the latest 2025 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Position Stand on Vegetarian and Vegan Diets and Health.