Nutrition and environmental issue: The nutrition field’s leaders in Brazil take the floor

Abstract

The Anthropocene suggests that human action represents the most important geological force acting on the planet, causing climate change and, ultimately, endangering all future life. The hegemonic food system represents an important component of this human action, given the irresponsible use of predatory techniques against Nature. Since nutrition is part of the food system, it is necessary to discuss its position and actions to mitigate its effects. This work aimed to evaluate the perceptions of nutrition leaders in Brazil on the environmental issue and its relationship with the field of nutrition. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the thematic analysis technique. The results showed that the leaders are aware of the environmental issue emergence and that nutrition has a great relationship and responsibility with this theme, although different levels and counterpoints to this perception have been found, such as the lack of knowledge on the subject. It is suggested that nutrition, permeated by the ideology of nutritionism, should be guided by an ethical-political posture suited to the emergence of the environmental issue, as proposed by Hans Jonas’ Principle of Responsibility.