Rethinking Nutrition and Food Systems for Planetary Health in South Asia

February 2026

The webinar “Rethinking Nutrition and Food Systems for Planetary Health in South Asia” was hosted jointly by The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute at Harvard University and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health – India Research Center on February 11, 2026.

South Asia is undergoing a rapid nutrition transition, marked by the coexistence of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and a growing burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases. Rising rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity are closely linked to changing dietary patterns, urbanization, and evolving food systems. Against this backdrop, planetary health diets have emerged as a promising framework to advance both human health and environmental sustainability.

This webinar brought together leading experts in nutrition, epidemiology, and food policy to examine the relevance, feasibility, and equity implications of planetary health diets in South Asia.

Speakers:

• Shilpa Bhupathiraju, Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
• Purnima Menon, Senior Director, Food and Nutrition Policy and Acting Senior Director, Transformation Strategy, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
• Walter Willett, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Moderator: S. V. Subramanian, Professor of Population Health and Geography, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.