Join us for a webinar on “Nutrition and Food Systems for Planetary Health,” hosted jointly by the Mittal Institute and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health–India Research Centre.
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 brings together leading experts in nutrition, epidemiology, and food policy to examine the relevance, feasibility, and equity implications of planetary health diets in South Asia. Drawing on global evidence—including findings from the EAT-Lancet Commission and the MASALA study—the discussion will explore links between dietary patterns and cardiometabolic risk among South Asian populations. The session will also consider policy and programmatic pathways to translate global evidence into regionally grounded action, with a focus on sustainable, healthy, and equitable food systems.
Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 pm IST / 8:00 – 9:30 am EST
Venue: Online on Zoom
Moderator:
Hitesh Hathi, Executive Director, The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute at Harvard University
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
• Walter Willett, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health