In 2023, UNSW launched Australia’s first combined degree in Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Innovation. The integrated 5-year Master’s programme has been designed to produce graduates who will be potential future leaders of the profession.
Farm to Fork is a suite of courses undertaken by Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Innovation students designed to immerse them in the entire food production process. A key feature of the program is the use of UNSW’s on-campus garden, located at the northeast corner of the Barker Street carpark. The garden, established in 2019, is a living classroom where students explore the links between food production, sustainability, and health.
“Understanding where food comes from and the challenges of growing it helps our students become not only skilled clinicians but also advocates for healthy and sustainable food systems,” says Jaimee Hughes, Associate Lecturer, Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Innovation.
During term 1, students grew their own produce in the campus garden or at Randwick Community Organic Gardens as part of an assessment. This practical experience brings theory to life, giving students insight into issues like climate impacts, pests, and food security.
“Being accountable for growing our own crops added a fun and practical dimension to our university experience as we explored the nuances of our food systems, whilst getting our hands dirty” say Jordana Weiner and Leilani Holmes Skrill, second-year students.
The course culminated in a Harvest Feast, where students prepared a meal using the produce they’ve grown for a true farm-to-fork experience.
“The Harvest Feast was a rewarding way to celebrate the produce we had grown, bringing the cohort together with a shared sense of accomplishment," say Jordana Weiner and Leilani Holmes Skrill.
The journey of food continues in Farm to Fork 2 where the focus shifts to the broader food environment, covering food policy and regulation, marketing, trends, packaging innovation, and food waste. Through practical hands-on learning, community engagement, and a focus on the SDGs, these courses are shaping the future of nutrition and dietetics education, one seed and one crop at a time.
Want to visit the garden? Join the next Garden Bee!
