2025 was global, & the plan for 2026

Written By Sarah Seng

We are incredibly excited about this year holds…

Advancing Nutritional Quality in the Food Supply:

What we’ve built together, & where we’re going next

As we begin 2026, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share with you what we accomplished in 2025 here at the Bionutrient Food Association (BFA) and Bionutrient Institute (BI) - and to reflect on the people who make this work possible - along with what we hope to achieve this year.

Up until now, no one has really had the chance to understand just how many people, places, organizations and allies Dan has connected with and shared the work of BFA and BI with. As I was able to join Dan on the travels for a large part of the year, I was able to take pictures and now can give everyone a front row seat, or at least a birds eye view of the amazing web of allies that we are working with around the world - I'm so excited to share it!


My name is Sarah Seng, and I serve as Development Director & Executive Assistant to our Executive Director, Dan Kittredge.

Dan & I ‘bookend’ Pierre Weill, Founder of Bleu Blanc Coeur (BBC), and Ludovic Pacquin, Lecturer in Chemical Sciences, University of Rennes, France.

Pierre, along with BBC President, Nathalie Kerhoas are the first major signatories for the Treaty for Nutrient Density.


After meeting Dan at a talk in Australia in December, 2024, due to my own interest in nutritional quality as a food system lever, I’ve had the privilege of joining this work - driven by a deep belief that improving food quality is essential to the health, viability, and resilience of farmers and communities worldwide.

It has been a joy and an honor to meet so many who support us in this work whether by phone, email, video call or in person - your support is helping us advance a vision of agriculture where food quality, soil health, and human well-being rise together.

I plan to share regular updates on what we’ve been working on, how the work is progressing, and give you the opportunity to get to know our team better along the way. As meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships are built by spending time together - I invite you to get involved in our ecosystem in 2026, and consider welcoming us into your community to share our work.

 

2025 Highlights

A Year of Growth, Learning, & Nutrient-Dense Progress

 

Global Treaty for Nutrient Density


Through Listening Sessions with farmers, researchers, and supply chain stakeholders, we have refined our proposal to define nutrient density definitions for 20 crops worldwide.

Getting signatories is our next step, we will be releasing publicly those who have signed it going forward. Visit the Nutrient Density Treaty here.

 

12th Annual Soil and Nutrition Conference

This year, we hosted the 12th Annual Soil and Nutrition Conference, a 12-week series featuring 16+ global speakers exploring the intersection of soil health, human nutrition, and regenerative practices.

The theme of the conference was “reNaturing ourSelves”, focusing on how we can live in deeper harmony with nature, adopt daily regenerative habits, and support both our families and communities.

Check out the recordings being released weekly on our YouTube Channel.

 

Brixit App & Kit


A fun, interactive app that lets the community measure and compare Brix levels in fruits and vegetables - turning nutrient awareness into a hands-on experience.

 

Farmer Education

Dan taught Nutrient Dense Food Production courses this year in Ireland, Scotland, Australia and Hungary, and keynoted conferences in Czech Republic, Hungary, Netherlands, United States, England and Australia.

 

Definition of Nutrient Density for Beef


Our benchmark definition is nearing release, guided by Lead Co-Principal Investigators Pablo Gregorini and Stephan Van Vliet, with formal publication anticipated 2026.

 

Expanding - Funding Received in 2025

Thanks to the assistance and support of the Mustardseed Trust (Netherlands), we were able to hire a Development Director (yours truly) to assist the BFA to expand its capacity. It has also allowed us to hire our Art Director, Adam Parsons, to be able to work with us more closely and on an ongoing basis.

Global Treaty on Nutrient Density



In 2025, we launched the Treaty for Nutrient Density and, since September, hosted Listening Sessions across six of the world’s seven continents.

These Listening Sessions formed part of a broader process designed to engage stakeholders from across the entire food supply chain. Their purpose was to help refine a scientific proposal to define Nutrient Density in each crop across 20 food crops. This proposal builds on our foundational work to define Nutrient Density in beef, which is nearing completion, with the definition scheduled for release this year.

The objectives of these Listening Sessions were to broaden the reach of this work globally, strengthen and refine the proposal, and build relationships with aligned organisations, individuals and potential funders. As a result, Nutrient Density - and our mission to define it - has gained global visibility and is now a prominent topic in conversations among a diverse range of stakeholders worldwide.

This work was made possible in part through the generosity of The Rising Foundation (USA), which shares our passion and commitment to activating a global mission to improve both planetary and human health by increasing the quality of food in the global supply.

 
 

We began the Treaty Process by announcing the Draft Treaty for Nutrient Density at our online conference in September, which had attendees from 28 different countries including:

Sweden, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Algeria, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, United States, Canada, Ireland, Brazil, Scotland, Netherlands, France, Denmark, Switzerland, Wales, India, Mauritius, Belgium, Spain, Hong Kong, Germany and Italy!

Our tour of the Listening Sessions began in September in Australia - Drysdale, Victoria, at Farm My School, followed by Byron Bay at The Farm in New South Wales with lots of interest and great feedback offered. Then we moved to Europe. In The Netherlands, we convened in Houten, and then in Budapest, Hungary, at the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Two further sessions took place in The Cotswolds, UK, and at the University of Rennes, France. We followed this up with an online session with Acres USA, to share the work with people across the United States and North America.

Then we moved to Bogota, Colombia, with our hosts at ReFi Collective to continue our consultative process. These sessions were highly engaged and provided us with much food for thought (pun intended!), along with connections and introductions to those engaged in associated work to assist in further refining the Treaty.

Unfortunately we were unable to present the three sessions scheduled at COP30 in Belem, Brazil, due to unforeseen issues with visas stemming from the current political dynamics.

Later in November, we hosted sessions in South Africa, outside Cape Town at Spier Wine Farm, then in Johannesburg at Jackson’s Real Food, Kyalami, followed by four sessions in Kenya - at Kiongo Farm, La Terrasse Restaurant, in Nairobi at Cultiva Restaurant, at Mlongo Farm, and another in Tigoni at Grove and Meadow.

Finally, the Treaty reached the Middle East - our touch into Asia with an event in Abu Dhabi, UAE, at the VIV Mea at ADNEC, and culminated with the launch of the Final Treaty in Rennes, France, at the University of Rennes, hosted by Bleu Blanc Coeur at their "One Health Congress."

Subsequently the Treaty has been shared in the United States at the Acres USA 50th Annual Eco-Ag Conference at Madison, Wisconsin, along with the North Carolina Soil Health Coalition Annual Conference, and the Liberty Food Festival in Vermont.

We will expand on this work in a regular updates this year as this is our prime mission to improve the quality of food in supply, however to read more about the Treaty right now, and sign on as a signatory in support of the work, head to our website to learn more.

Because our work as an NGO is supported through a blend of philanthropic funding and many small contributions from members and everyday citizens, Dan and I are always mindful of stretching every travel dollar as far as possible. This trip certainly put that philosophy into practice. Our accommodations reflected the full spectrum - ranging from camping in a paddock to, on the opposite end, a gracious stay at the Goodwood Estate courtesy of the Her Grace, Lady Janet Richmond.

We were also fortunate to receive generous hospitality in many places - numerous hosts and (now) friends welcomed us, helping keep costs down while sharing in the work - and often, sharing meals and joy - along the way!

Given that my work and passion are rooted in improving the nutritional quality of food for the collective good, this trip was both a joy and a profound honour - despite the demanding schedule! In the process, we logged more than 25 flights totalling more than 60,000 miles (or 100,000km) in economy seats over less than 100 days!

These Listening Sessions were a cornerstone of our year, enabling us to refine the Treaty and build consensus across the global food system. What a wonderful tour it was, meeting and listening to supporters of our work all around the planet.

We’re now reconnecting with everyone and following through on the collaboration opportunities that emerged along the way. We haven’t forgotten you - thank you for your patience, and we’re genuinely excited to build what comes next together!

Bionutrient Food Association - A Growing Global Presence

This year, as mentioned earlier, our team grew with both Adam Parsons and myself formally joining the BFA.

Thanks to Adam’s exceptional creative talents, our materials have never looked better, the Brixit Kit has been beautifully developed (with retail release just around the corner!), and our Soil and Nutrition Conference ran seamlessly. As a nationally awarded and published illustrator (Tokyo) with experience working alongside major brands, Adam brings not only immense skill but also genuine passion for the mission - an inspiring combination that has played a key role in BFA’s growth.


Adam worked with unceasing vigour with our longstanding team member, Shawna Lyons - whom many of you saw introducing our Conference at various points this year. Shawna’s attention to detail and consistent dedication enabled us to successfully deliver such a diverse array of projects. Shawna, a former farmer who first met Dan at a workshop many, many moons ago, is especially excited to be contributing to the realisation of the long-held vision Dan first articulated in 2009 through the creation of the Nutrient Dense Manifesto, which he shared with us last week for posterity.


Alongside our core staff, we welcomed several key volunteer coordinators to our global team: Susan Rodger from Queensland, Australia; and Katrina Bull from the Netherlands. Special mention to Emma Lilley in the UK who was a key ally in 2025, but will be stepping back in 2026.

Thanks to the dedication of these remarkable women, we’ve been able to expand our reach and successfully deliver a range of events that would not have been possible without their collective support. We are deeply grateful to Susan, Katrina, and Emma, and we look forward to sharing more about their journeys in future editions.

CHECK OUT THE TEAM AT BFA

Summary of Events for 2025

It has been another full and dynamic year for the BFA, and particularly Dan, with him travelling across the world to keynote conferences, attend meetings and gatherings, teach courses on Nutrient Dense Food Production, and share the work of the Bionutrient Food Association.

And this year, I had the privilege of joining him for both a UK tour in June - July for a series of events including Groundswell (UK) and also as we took the Listening Sessions around the world. As mentioned above, with the launch of the Treaty for Nutrient Density that followed, nutrient density has now truly gone global.

The following is a list of the public events that the Bionutrient Food Association have held, Dan has spoken at, or where we’ve attended to share the work.

January 2025

Video: Dan speaking for Carboneg in the Czech Republic

Dan at the MIT Imagination In Action: Architects of the Global Future in Davos, Switzerland

February 2025

Dan at Hay Castle, Wales

March 2025

Dan, the self-confessed Luddite with regard to technology, creates his first selfie-video for the 2-day course at Neidpath Castle, Scotland

Dan speaking passionately at Steiner House, London (video)

A clip of Dan speaking at Slow Food Noosa’s (AUS) “Annual Snail Awards”

April 2025

Dan speaking at Northern Australia Food Futures Conference, Darwin, Australia

May 2025

Dan attended the Mustardseed Trust Jamboree in Nice, France - pictured here with Chair, Alida Akema Boon; Managing Director, Emmy van Kleef; and Partner Program and Operations Manager, Katrina Bull

June 2025

We met with “Friends of Ecosystem Restoration” in Kent, England to progress systemic solutions for food and agriculture

A video featuring Dan speaking at “Farmacy's “Chef’s Weekend Experience”, England

July 2025

Dan speaking at the Soil Medic Tent, Groundswell, UK, alongside Bridget Elworthy and Henrietta Cortauld, aka The Land Gardeners



Overall…who we are and what we are doing
is laid out in Dan’s video below:

Dan speaking at Beacon Farms, Wales in the
tightest video yet in BFA history


August 2025

Nutrient Dense Food Production Workshop at Eastie Farms Community Gardens, East Boston

September 2025

Dan presenting the the first ever release of the “Brixit” kit to the Matthew Evans - organiser of “Grounded Festival,” alongside MC and “The RegeNarration” Podcast host, Anthony James in Western Australia (click for audio recording link 1 & link 2)

October 2025


Dan teaching the 2-day course in Bőszénfa, Hungary

Dan speaking at Congresso De Cozinha - or Congress of Chefs - Portugal

Dan featured on the panel for the Goodwood Health Summit, Goodwood House, Chichester, UK

November 2025

Listening Session for the Treaty for Nutrient Density - Klongo Farms, Kenya

Listening Session for the Treaty for Nutrient Density - Cultiva Restaurant, Nairobi, Kenya

Dan pictured with Delia Stirling, Founder - Grove and Meadow, and Natasha Straker, event host, Kenya

And just some of the crowd who attended the Listening Session at Grove & Meadow in Kenya below enjoying a grounding meal of delicious food at the dining table built into the earth!

Dan speaking at the Mlango Farm Listening Session, Kenya


December 2025

Dan speaking at Acres 50th Annual Eco-Ag Conference - Madison, WI, USA

Dan speaking at North Carolina Soil Health event

Dan with the team from North Carolina Soil Health

Looking Ahead in 2026

We are incredibly excited about what 2026 holds - as we have gained momentum with several of our key projects. We anticipate another major expansion of the work, including:

  • Publishing the Definition of Nutrient Density for Beef

  • Advancing the Treaty for Nutrient Density by engaging potential signatories and supporting the launch of Phase 1

  • Launching the “Brixit” Kit to actively engage and educate the public on nutritional quality

  • Strengthening educational and farmer-support programs

  • Continuing to develop accessible, data-rich dashboards for understanding food quality

DONATE NOW!
 

Your Support Makes a Difference

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Together, we can bring clarity, integrity, and nourishment back into the heart of our food system.

If you are able, and feel inspired to do so, we invite you to make a contribution to the Bionutrient Food Association. Your assistance accelerates a movement toward food that is more nutritious, transparent, and connected to the health of our soils and communities. We appreciate all forms of assistance - whether it’s financial, your time, energy or good vibes.

Sharing our work, inviting us to speak or present the Treaty with your community; signing the Treaty in support of the process; becoming a member; or reaching out to get actively involved all make a meaningful difference. We’re grateful for each and every one of you.

On a personal note, on behalf of all of us at Bionutrient Food Association and the Bionutrient Institute, I hope that you and your dearest had a joyful and restful holiday season, and that 2026 may be a fruitful year for you.

We are ready for a fantastic 2026 in advancing the quality of food in supply, and doing work that brings a lot of hope and joy to the world. We look forward to updating you regularly on the developments as they happen!

With gratitude,

Sarah Seng

Development Director, Bionutrient Food Association

Sarah Seng
Next

04/14/25 - Soil: The key to better nutrition?