Top academic and federal scientists convened at the National Academies in Washington D.C. to discuss how artificial intelligence and machine learning can be leveraged to improve our knowledge about nutrition

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS – February 12, 2024. Food and nutrition research, policy, and practice are poised to transform public health by reducing high rates of obesity and related chronic diseases, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies to address the complex interactions among foods, nutritional status, and health behaviors. Recognizing the potential of these emergent data science technologies, a meeting of leading experts in nutrition and data science was convened to review and discuss the current state and future promise of using AI and ML in accelerating nutrition research and its use in science-informed policy and practice.

The expert meeting was held February 8 – 9, 2024 at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) in Washington, D.C, and coordinated by nutrition experts Drs. Regan Bailey and Patrick Stover from the Texas A&M Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture (IHA), along with Dr. Amanda MacFarlane, Director of the Texas A&M Agriculture, Food, & Nutrition Evidence Center (Evidence Center), Dr. Martha Field from the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University, and Dr. Ilias Tagkopoulos, Director of the University of California, Davis’ Artificial Intelligence Institute for Next Generation Food Systems (AIFS). The convening brought together experts, stakeholders, and thought leaders from across academia, industry, and government. It was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Dr. Regan Bailey, the meeting chair and IHA Co-Director, said, "AI and machine learning have the potential to accelerate progress and overcome barriers in connecting food, nutrition, and health."

“This consultation will help accelerate progress in advancing trustworthy science-informed dietary guidance by bringing together experts in nutrition, data science, and public policy in the same room,” added IHA Director Dr. Patrick Stover.

Ilias Tagkopoulos, AIFS Director and Principal Investigator, noted, “In the era of large language models and knowledge graphs, building accurate, explainable evidence synthesis tools that we can trust is instrumental for realizing their potential in public health policy and commercial agricultural applications. If we do it right, the impact will be transformative: accelerated innovation, better and faster evidence-based decisions, and reduced costs across our healthcare and food systems.”

About IHA
The IHA’s mission is to improve human health for all by leading science-driven solutions in agriculture, nutrition, and food systems in a way that supports economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, and community well-being for current and future generations through innovative research.

About the Evidence Center
The Texas A&M Agriculture, Food, & Nutrition Evidence Center (Evidence Center) advances scientific understanding of society’s most challenging and vital questions about the agri-food system and its effects on nutrition, health, the environment, and the economy through evidence synthesis.

About AIFS
AIFS aims to solve the world’s biggest challenges to crop and food production facing our planet: ensuring a sustainable, nutritious, efficient, and safe food supply while mitigating the impacts of climate change.

About NASEM
The National Academies are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine. They operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.