The International Congress of Nutrition and Dietetics (ICND) is one of the most important gatherings in the global nutrition field. It brings together experts, researchers, educators, and health professionals to exchange ideas, share new findings, and discuss the future of dietetics and public health nutrition.
If you’re a dietitian, student, researcher, or just someone interested in evidence-based food and health topics, understanding what ICND offers can help you decide whether to attend. This consumer guide looks at what the congress is about, what happened at the most recent events in Toronto (2024) and Montreal (2025), and what to expect next in Canada.
What Is the ICND Conference?
The International Congress of Nutrition and Dietetics is not an annual event. It happens every few years and usually rotates between different countries. Its main focus is on applied nutrition, clinical dietetics, public health, and food systems. What makes ICND stand out is its ability to attract participants from all over the world – people who are working on real-world nutrition issues or studying how diet and health intersect.
Participants include registered dietitians, health policy experts, academics, community nutrition workers, and graduate students. Many attend for professional development but also for networking and collaboration on new projects. The event has a strong reputation for presenting peer-reviewed research and offering practical takeaways.
Where Nutrition Meets Modern Lifestyles
In recent years, nutrition professionals have started looking beyond food to understand how modern lifestyle habits shape health. Issues like screen time, sleep disruption, social media use, and digital addictions are now seen as part of the bigger picture.
At events like the International Congress of Nutrition and Dietetics, these broader wellness topics often show up alongside sessions on clinical nutrition and public health. While diet remains the core focus, discussions increasingly touch on how tech-driven habits can influence eating behavior, mental health, and long-term wellness.
What Nutrition Experts Should Know About Gambling Trends
Online gambling is one of the fastest-growing digital activities in Canada. According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), nearly 66% of Canadians engage in some form of gambling each year. With more provinces expanding regulated online casinos, the trend is expected to grow.
For dietitians and health educators, this matters because gambling behaviour is often linked to lifestyle risks, like stress eating, irregular meals, and financial insecurity, which may affect food choices. People with gambling problems may also experience mental health concerns, which are increasingly part of integrated nutrition care plans.
Though not yet a core topic at ICND, the connection between gambling, mental stress, and health behaviour is gaining attention in public health circles. As digital habits continue to shape how people live and eat, professionals attending future ICND events may see more crossover between nutrition and behavior science.
🇨🇦 Canada Hosts: Two ICND Events Back-to-Back
It’s not common for one country to host ICND events two years in a row. But that’s exactly what happened in 2024 and 2025. In 2024, ICND returned to Canada with a professionally organized, large-scale event in Toronto hosted by the Dietitians of Canada and the International Confederation of Dietetic Associations (ICDA).
Then, in 2025, another event using the same ICND name was scheduled in Montreal, but this one was organized by a very different body – WASET, which is known for its wide range of academic conferences across disciplines. These two events were quite different in structure, content, and audience.
2024 ICND Conference in Toronto
Quick facts:
- Date: June 12–14, 2024
- Location: The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto
- Organizer: Dietitians of Canada and ICDA
- Theme: Rise to the Challenge
- Abstracts Published: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
The International Congress of Nutrition and Dietetics (ICND) in Toronto took place from June 12 to 14 at the Westin Harbour Castle, a major venue on the city’s waterfront. It was hosted by two respected organizations, Dietitians of Canada and ICDA, and brought together hundreds of professionals from the field. The theme was “Rise to the Challenge,” reflecting the growing pressures on global food systems and public health.
Topics ranged from food policy and sustainability to tech innovation in dietetics and nutrition across the lifespan. Sessions looked at how public health strategies are adapting to climate change, food insecurity, and demographic shifts.
The conference was chaired by Dr. Heather Keller (University of Waterloo) and Dr. Shannan Grant (Mount Saint Vincent University), both well-known in the Canadian dietetics community. The scientific committee included researchers and practitioners from across the country, ensuring a well-rounded and practical program.
All accepted abstracts from ICND 2024 were published in the Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research (DOI: 10.3148/cjdpr-2024-020). Topics included childhood nutrition, the role of the Mediterranean diet in university settings, and the use of health data in community dietary planning.
What set ICND2024 apart was the quality of the sessions and the international mix of participants. Professionals from more than 30 countries joined, either to present or to take part in workshops. It wasn’t just a series of lectures – it was a real learning and networking experience, with strong support from national dietetic organizations.
“Whether you are looking for the latest advances in food and nutrition public policy, food and the environment, food sovereignty, technological innovation, or nutrition across the lifespan, the ICND 2024 program will be sure to have something for you,”
said the conference organizers.
ICND 2025 in Montreal
Quick facts:
- Date: May 22–23, 2025
- Location: Montreal, but with no clear venue; online-focused
- Organizer: WASET
- Format: Digital-first (e-posters and recorded presentations)
In contrast to the Toronto conference, the ICND event held in Montreal in 2025 followed a very different structure. Organized by the World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology (WASET), this version of ICND focused on digital presentation formats and had no official connection to Dietitians of Canada or ICDA.
Unlike the professionally hosted 2024 congress, the Montreal version did not provide a clearly defined venue or detailed in-person program. Instead, most sessions were submitted research papers, presented as e-posters or pre-recorded talks. Many contributors were graduate-level or early-career researchers.
While WASET states that its conferences follow a peer-review process and include indexing in academic databases, the organization has faced ongoing criticism for its large volume of events and lack of discipline-specific oversight.
One dietitian who attended ICND 2024 noted,
“The Toronto event gave me real value I could apply in my work with clients. When I looked up the 2025 event, it didn’t seem like the same level of engagement or structure.”
This comparison highlights the importance of vetting conference organizers and reading program details carefully. Although the Montreal event used the same ICND acronym, the content focus and overall experience differed significantly from its Toronto counterpart.
ICND 2024 vs. ICND 2025 – Key Differences
While both events used the ICND name, they were fundamentally different. Here’s how they compare:
Feature | ICND 2024 (Toronto) | ICND 2025 (Montreal) |
|---|---|---|
Organizer | Dietitians of Canada + ICDA | WASET |
Format | In-person, professional focus | Digital, academic papers |
Credibility | High, established reputation | Questioned by some |
Target Audience | Practicing dietitians | Academic researchers |
Upcoming Food and Nutrition Conferences in Canada (2025)
If you’re planning your year ahead, there are a few other food and nutrition conferences in Canada that may be worth exploring. These aren’t connected to ICND, but some focus on clinical nutrition topics.
Date | Conference Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
August 8 | ICCN – ISER (Clinical Nutrition) | Quebec City, QC |
October 31 | ICCN – APSTE | Calgary, AB |
November 14 | ICCN – SCIENCENET | Markham, ON |
November 21 | ICCN – APSTE | Toronto, ON |
December 19 | ICCN – Research Fora | Vancouver, BC |
Final Tips for Smart Consumers
Before registering for any nutrition conference:
- Research the organizer’s reputation within the professional community.
- Check past outcomes – did events produce meaningful research or policy changes?
- Read previous abstracts to see if content matches your professional needs.
For travel and accommodation:
- Book early through official conference housing when available.
- Look for discounts like air Canada promo code 2024 through professional associations.
- Use the ICND website and journal archives to prepare.
“The ICND promises to leave you feeling inspired by diverse perspectives and stimulating, high-quality research,”
the Toronto organizers stated.
The most valuable conferences combine quality research with practical applications you can use in your work. The Dietitians of Canada Conference 2024 delivered this combination, while other events may focus more narrowly on academics or commercial interests. Our tip for consumers: Stay connected with legitimate professional organizations through social media to get updates about upcoming events and distinguish between established gatherings and commercial conference operations.