By Prof. Mabel Carrera, President of the Organising Committee, Prof. Angel Gil, Director of the Executive Committee, Prof. J. Alfredo Martinez, President of the International Scientific Committee, Prof Nora Slobodianik, Member of the Argentinian Scientific Committee

In 2017 the 21^st International Union of Nutritional Sciences International Congress of Nutriton (IUNS-ICN) was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The IUNS-ICN is a four-yearly meeting that has been held since 1946. The 21^st IUNS-ICN was jointly organised by the Sociedad Argentina de Nutrición (SAN) and IUNS Council and the congress theme was “From Sciences to Nutrition Security”. The aim of each IUNS-ICN is to promote the exchange of knowledge in Nutritional Sciences. The scientific programme comprised of 6 plenary lectures, 40 keynote lectures, 116 parallel symposia, 31 sponsored symposia, and 24 satellite symposia.

The congress focused on every aspect of nutrition, with a wide variety of topics. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism have published 2062 abstracts from 97 countries, and 297 abstracts selected for oral communications, presented at the IUNS-ICN.  This special edition also includes the summaries of more than 350 selected guest speakers participating in the scientific symposia.

The main goal of the conference was to offer a high-level scientific meeting focused on addressing the key aspects of nutrition in a multicultural environment, from state-of-the-art reviews to cutting edge nutritional science information. The sessions delivered the latest investigations and outcomes concerning the impact of nutrition on homeostasis and body metabolism, on dietary intake and nutritional status of the population and the individual for precision nutrition as well on the role of dietary prescriptions in disease management and prevention. The programme also featured translational research orientated to design and implement strategies and approaches to change dietary behaviors and to develop policies, as well as aspects related to public health issues, Nutrition education and climate change, and Food and Agriculture for health maintenance. The programme was led by six plenary sessions from eminent speakers covering all health aspects in the life cycle with integrative views on food security.

In the current climate of economic burden and financial crisis, it has been a challenge to build a solid Nutrition Congress. Notwithstanding, in parallel, it opens the exceptional occasion to link the multidisciplinary disciplines of nutritional sciences, predominantly basic and applied research activities relating Nutrition and Food with Health. Also, food safety, food production, and environmental sustainability are approached in the program.

The 21^st IUNS-ICN organisers wish to recognise and thank young investigators and nutrition professionals from low and middle income countries. Travel grants, registration fee discounts, and accommodation reductions for selected young investigators and other awardees were made possible by the contribution from international agencies and the private sector. IUNS granted 73 scholarships to its Adhering Bodies’ early career scientists from universities and research institutes from all over the world.

We wish to express our genuine appreciation to all attendants, also to invited speakers and international experts and delegates whose participation and interest produced a successful IUNS 21^st ICN for sharing and exchanging knowledge in nutritional sciences for the benefit of the human being.