My name is Carla Walker, and I am a recently qualified dietitian currently on a graduate programme with Abbott Nutrition. I also volunteer with the Emerging INDI, a sub-committee within the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI), which aims to support and represent student dietitians and recent graduates. I was honoured to receive a bursary from INDI and the National Dairy Council to attend the EFAD Congress in Malmö, Sweden.
The theme of this year’s congress was “Rethink. Reform. Sustain”, with an aim to focus on the role of dietitians in promoting health equity and sustainable food systems. The speakers addressed current challenges in dietetic practice, including the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. A key message was that AI should be used to enhance, rather than replace clinical judgement.
The symposium hosted by the European Milk Forum focused on the role of dairy in sustainable diets from nutritional, environmental, and farming perspectives.
- Dr Anne Nugent discussed sustainable diets and highlighted that, for most people in Ireland, achieving a sustainable diet involves increasing dairy intake rather than reducing it.
- Dr Anders Herlin discussed environmental considerations, noting that previous estimates of dairy’s impact often excluded full life cycle analysis and nutrient density.
- Finally, Hanne Line Skovgaard Revsbech, a dairy farmer, shared stories and practical approaches to sustainability on her family-run farm.
It was an inspiring weekend as a young dietitian, looking at our role in ensuring a sustainable future for all and emerging areas for the future dietitian. I would like to thank the INDI and the NDC for making it possible for me to attend.
