IUNS Capacity Development

The 9th Chinese Nutrition Leadership Training Programme Successfully Held in Ürümqi

The Chinese Nutrition Leadership Training Programme (CNLP), a collaborative initiative between the Chinese Nutrition Society (CNS) and the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS), was established with the aim of empowering young scholars in the field of nutrition in China, to expand their thinking beyond professional boundaries and develop into confident, globally-minded leaders. Since its inception in 2008, this flagship programme has been conducted eight times, successfully cultivating over 300 leaders in the nutritional profession and establishing itself as a key initiative for nurturing young leadership within the nutrition society.

The 9th Chinese Nutrition Leadership Training Programme (CNLP) took place in the city of Ürümqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on August 2–7, 2026. This programme was jointly organized by the Chinese Nutrition Society (CNS), the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS), and the Federation of Asian Nutrition Societies (FANS). After selection process involving nominations, initial screening, and competitive evaluation, 46 participants representing a diverse background from Universities, Research institutions, medical facilities, Provincial CDCs were chosen from over 100 applicants to join this programme.

Programme Key Themes

  • International Perspective and Innovative Thinking: To broaden participants’ global outlook and cultivate innovative approaches to challenges in the nutrition field.
  • Professional Integration and Capacity Building: To strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and enhance professional competence across diverse domains.
  • Vision Enhancement and Comprehensive Literacy: To broaden participants’ horizons and refine their overall professional and cultural literacy.
  • Leadership and Implementation Capability: To elevate participants’ leadership skills, ensure the effective execution of ideas, and improve their ability to communicate with clarity and impact.

Picture 1. The group photo of the opening ceremony of 9th CNLP

Programme Overview

At the opening ceremony held on August 2, Professor Yuexin Yang, President of the Chinese Nutrition Society;President of the Federation of Asian Nutrition Societies, officially announced the beginning of the programme. She emphasized that the goal of CNLP is not “professional” learning by itself, but rather expanding one’s thinking and identifying personal growth areas. She noted that leadership training is not about learning administrative authority, but about self-improvement and self-management encompassing execution, cooperation, guidance, and influence—all rooted in the power of thought. Professor Yang encouraged participants to cherish the opportunity, engage in earnest study, foster teamwork within their groups, build friendships, and enlighten one another through the learning process.

Picture 2. Professor Yuexin Yang，President of Chinese Nutrition Society,President of the Federation of Asian Nutrition Society , delivers an opening speech

Following the opening, participants engaged in leadership self-assessment, ice-breaking activities, group division, and task assignments. The 46 participants were organized into four groups – Event Operations, Media&News, Culture&Sports, and Team Development – each with distinct responsibilities, and were actively involved in planning and implementing activities throughout the programme.

Picture 3. Candidates for class monitor and group leaders.

Over the subsequent five days, the programme was delivered through a diverse mix of lectures, panel discussions, forums, site visits, and interactive workshops, structured around four core modules: international perspective and innovative thinking; professional integration and capacity building; vision enhancement and comprehensive literacy; and leadership and implementation skills. Each module combined theoretical grounding with hands-on practice, covering cutting edge topics in nutrition science, research methodologies, interdisciplinary collaboration, cultural awareness, and team management. Faculty members from multiple countries and disciplines, including China, the United States, and Italyetc., contributed to the sessions, enriching participants’ global outlook and practical skills.

Complementing the formal sessions, each group designed and facilitated interactive activities that put leadership principles into practice, including self-awareness exercises, professional branding, persuasive communication, and conflict resolution through a structured debate on dietary patterns and a scenario-based negotiation simulation. An evening peer-exchange session further allowed participants to explore practical challenges in leadership and communication.

Picture 4. The Culture & Sports Group leads participants in break-time activities.

Picture 5. Team Development Group leads Scenario-based simulation exercise

On August 7, the programme held its final summary and learning achievement sharing session. Representatives from each group delivered presentations in English, reflecting on their gains in terms of broadened industry vision, enhanced professional skills, elevated leadership qualities, and strengthened team collaboration. Some participants also shared their personal reflections：

“This experience has made me realize that true breakthroughs come from organized collaborative research, systematic data sharing, and the heartfelt exchange of experience.”

“Not a nutrition major, but I came purely for my love of clinical nutrition. My heartfelt thanks to the Chinese Nutrition Society for building this precious platform for young clinicians and scholars—and for this extraordinary opportunity to grow and connect.”

A panel of experts provided on-site comments and feedback. They commended the participants’ rapid progress and deep thinking, and encouraged them to continue consolidating their professional foundations, to develop their own distinctive “nutrition labels,” and to actively contribute to the national Healthy China initiative.

The ceremony included a video review produced by the Media&News group, followed by the presentation of training certificates.

Conclusion

The 9th CNLP has successfully achieved its goal of equipping participants with the skills and knowledge to become leaders in the field of nutrition. The participants expressed that the five-day training had not only improved their professional literacy but also enhanced their teamwork and leadership abilities. They unanimously agreed that this training was not an end point but a new starting point for their professional growth, and they pledged to apply what they had learned and continue to contribute to the development of the nutrition field. Additionally, the participants have formed deep friendships and established extensive cooperation networks. It is believed that in the future, these participants will become leading figures in the field of nutrition, collectively advancing the prosperity and development of the nutrition industry and guiding it towards new heights.

Nutrition Without Borders: 80 Years of IUNS – Task Forces in Focus

Welcome back to the IUNS 80th anniversary series, “Nutrition Without Borders: 80 Years of IUNS”.

Task Forces in Focus: How IUNS Tackles Emerging Nutrition Challenges 

One of the distinctive ways the IUNS advances nutrition science is through its Task Forces. Bringing together experts from different countries and disciplines, these groups provide a platform for international collaboration on emerging or under-addressed nutrition challenges. By connecting researchers, clinicians, educators and practitioners, Task Forces help translate scientific knowledge into practical action while strengthening global research networks. 

Over the past eight decades, IUNS Task Forces have addressed a wide range of topics reflecting the changing priorities of nutrition science. Some have focused on disease prevention and treatment, others on sustainable food systems, Indigenous knowledge, nutrition capacity development or new scientific methodologies. While it is not possible to highlight every Task Force in this story, the examples below illustrate the breadth of approaches through which IUNS supports global nutrition research and collaboration.  

Some of the Task Forces highlighted below have now completed their formal IUNS mandate. Several continue their work independently, reflecting how IUNS‑initiated collaborations often evolve into long‑standing scientific networks. 

Building international research networks 

Some Task Forces create global scientific communities around emerging areas of nutrition research. 

The International Collaboration on Nutrition in relation to Cancer (ICONIC) Task Force is one such example. ICONIC brings together researchers, clinicians, dietitians and public health professionals working at the intersection of nutrition and cancer. Building on earlier international collaborations, ICONIC aims to strengthen research, education and professional networks across countries. 

Its activities have included supporting nutrition education and research capacity in Africa and other resource-limited settings, encouraging collaboration between oncology and nutrition professionals, and promoting the integration of nutrition throughout the cancer care pathway from prevention and treatment to survivorship. Through workshops, collaborative projects and international partnerships, ICONIC demonstrates how coordinated scientific networks can accelerate progress in an increasingly important area of health.  

Originally established as an IUNS Task Force, ICONIC continues its collaborative work independently. 

Connecting science with culture and traditional knowledge

Nutrition science is strengthened not only by laboratory research, but also by understanding how people eat within their cultural and environmental contexts. 

The Traditional and Indigenous Food Systems and Nutrition Task Force has worked to document and promote the nutritional value of traditional food systems around the world. Its work highlights the importance of biodiversity, Indigenous knowledge and locally adapted food practices in supporting healthy and sustainable diets. 

The Task Force has produced a series of publications documenting diverse Indigenous food systems across different regions, organised international symposia and webinars, and developed policy briefs that encourage governments and international organisations to recognise Indigenous food systems within nutrition and food policies. In doing so, it demonstrates how scientific research and traditional knowledge can complement one another in addressing contemporary nutrition challenges. 

Although no longer an active IUNS Task Force, the Traditional and Indigenous Food Systems group has continued publishing and convening internationally. 

Developing new approaches for emerging challenges 

As nutrition science evolves, so too do the questions researchers seek to answer. 

The Sustainable Diets Task Force explores how dietary recommendations can support both human and planetary health. Its work recognises that healthy diets should also consider environmental sustainability, cultural acceptability and local food systems. By developing indicators and methodological approaches, the Task Force contributes to a growing evidence base for integrating sustainability into nutrition research and policy. 

The Sustainable Diets Task Force completed its formal IUNS term but its methodological work remains influential.

Innovation also extends to how nutrition outcomes are measured. The Towards a Multidimensional Index of Child Growth Task Force is developing broader ways to understand children’s growth and development. Rather than relying solely on traditional anthropometric indicators, the initiative explores additional dimensions of child well-being, participation and equity. This work reflects the evolving understanding that child growth is influenced by multiple biological, social and environmental factors.  

The Multidimensional Index of Child Growth initiative began as an IUNS Task Force and continues to develop its framework beyond the formal Task Force period. 

A collaborative model for advancing nutrition science 

Although each Task Force has its own objectives, they share a common purpose: bringing together expertise from different countries and disciplines to address complex nutrition challenges that no single institution or nation can solve alone. 

Some Task Forces generate new scientific evidence. Others strengthen research capacity, develop methodologies, facilitate international partnerships or help translate knowledge into practice. Together, they demonstratehow IUNS serves as a global convener of nutrition science. 

The examples highlighted here represent only a small selection of the many Task Forces that have contributed to the work of IUNS over the years. They include both current Task Forces and former groups whose collaborations have continued beyond their formal IUNS mandate. This ongoing activity reflects the Union’s role in catalysing scientific networks that often persist long after IUNS funding ends. Collectively, current and former Task Forces demonstrate IUNS’s enduring commitment to international scientific collaboration and its ability to respond to emerging nutrition priorities as they evolve. 

As global nutrition challenges become increasingly interconnected, this collaborative model remains as important today as it was when IUNS was established nearly 80 years ago. 

To learn more about current and past IUNS Task Forces, visit the IUNS website. 

IUNS–FANUS Joint Webinar 2026 Recordings Now Available

We are pleased to announce that the recordings of the IUNS–FANUS Joint Webinar 2026, held on 2–3 June 2026, are now available to watch on the IUNS website.

The webinar series brought together researchers, academics, healthcare professionals, and students from around the world to explore current topics in nutrition science through a programme of expert presentations and discussions.

Whether you joined us live and would like to revisit the sessions, or were unable to attend every presentation, you can now access the full webinar recordings at your convenience.

Watch the webinar recordings here

IUNS extends its sincere thanks to all speakers, moderators, participants, and FANUS for their valuable contributions and support in making this webinar a success.

We hope you enjoy the recordings and look forward to welcoming you to future IUNS events.

Nutrition Without Borders: 80 Years of IUNS – Turning Science into Global Action

Welcome back to the IUNS 80th anniversary series, “Nutrition Without Borders: 80 Years of IUNS”.

Addressing today’s nutrition challenges requires more than scientific discovery alone. Turning evidence into meaningful action demands collaboration across countries, disciplines, and sectors. The IUNS Task Forces are one of the organisation’s key mechanisms for translating nutrition science into coordinated global action. 

Task Forces are established to address nutrition-related issues that require international cooperation and collective expertise. Their focus is intentionally forward-looking, concentrating on current and emerging challenges that may be under-recognised, insufficiently addressed, or too complex to be tackled by any single institution, discipline, or country alone. Through these collaborative groups, IUNS helps advance knowledge, foster partnerships, and support practical solutions to pressing nutrition concerns. 

Purpose and Structure 

Task Forces are selected at the beginning of each IUNS Council term and may operate for up to four years. This structure provides a defined period during which each group can identifypriorities, build collaborations, undertake activities, and develop outputs that contribute to nutrition science, policy, and practice. 

The current portfolio of Task Forces reflects the diversity and complexity of contemporary nutrition challenges. Areas of focus include conflict-related food and nutrition insecurity, ultra-processed foods, Indigenous peoples’ food sovereignty and wellbeing, territorial diets, and nutrition research priorities in Asia. 

Learn more about IUNS Task Forces 2025 – 2029

Breadth and Legacy

While current Task Forces focus on emerging priorities, the Task Force archive demonstrates the breadth of issues that have been addressed across previous Council terms. 

Over the years, Task Forces have examined topics including dietary quality, evidence-based nutrition, nutritional epidemiology, technology and nutrition, malnutrition prevention and control, nutrition transition, long-term health, nutrition translation, sustainable diets, Indigenous peoples’ food systems, dietary fat quality, micronutrient interventions, child growth and development, and international food data systems. 

Together, these activities reflect the broad scope of nutrition science and its connections with health, food systems, culture, sustainability, equity, and public policy. They also illustrate the IUNS mission to advance nutrition science, research, and development through international cooperation and to encourage communication and collaboration among nutrition scientists worldwide. 
 

Impact and Looking Ahead 

As nutrition challenges become increasingly interconnected with issues such as conflict, climate change, food systems transformation, urbanisation, and growing health inequities, international collaboration has never been more important. 

Task Forces provide a flexible mechanism for identifying emerging priorities, strengthening global partnerships, and generating knowledge that can inform research, policy, and practice. By bringing together expertise from different regions and disciplines, they help ensure that nutrition science remains responsive to evolving global needs and relevant across diverse contexts. 

Through this work, IUNS Task Forces contribute to healthier populations, more resilient food systems, and a more sustainable and equitable future. 

How do IUNS Task Forces translate collaboration into action? In next month’s feature, Task Forces in Focus — How IUNS Tackles Emerging Nutrition Challenges, we will take a closer look at selected Task Forces and their activities, illustrating how these expert groups contribute to addressing some of the most pressing nutrition challenges facing communities around the world today. 

Strengthening Global-African Collaboration: Reflections on the IUNS-FANUS Joint Webinar 2026

Article written by Dr Robert Fungo, current President of the Federation of African Nutrition Societies (FANUS)

The IUNS-FANUS Joint Webinar 2026 marked a significant milestone in fostering meaningful scientific exchange between the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) and the Federation of African Nutrition Societies (FANUS). Held over two days on 2–3 June 2026, the event attracted overwhelming interest, with registration closing early due to high demand. It built directly on the success of the inaugural regional webinar in March 2025, responding to feedback from IUNS Adhering Bodies calling for deeper, more substantive engagement across regions and disciplines.

The planning process exemplified responsive and participatory collaboration. IUNS and FANUS leadership drew on insights from previous events and member societies to shape the programme. A registration process invited participant input on topics, allowing the community to help prioritise emerging issues. This survey-driven approach ensured relevance, blending global perspectives with Africa-centered solutions. Under my leadership at FANUS and IUNS representatives, the team curated a balanced agenda that moved seamlessly from problem analysis to evidence-based action. Moderators, including Dr. Fungo, Dr. Habiba Hassan-Wassef, and Prof. Francis Bruno Zotor, played a pivotal role in facilitating dynamic discussions.

Day 1 focused on “Understanding the Nutrition Challenge,” examining the evolving burden of malnutrition in all its forms-micronutrient deficiencies, obesity, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs)-within shifting food environments. Speakers such as IUNS President Prof. Hyun-Sook Kim, Dr. Saskia Osendarp (Micronutrient Forum), Dr. Yunhee Kang, and Tunisian specialists Prof. Henda Jamoussi and Dr. Rym Ben Othman shared cutting-edge evidence on determinants, dietary transitions, and policy implications. Participants gained nuanced insights into how global trends intersect with local African realities.

Day 2 shifted to “Evidence for Actions to Address the Problems,” emphasising translation into practice. Sessions covered ultra-processed foods and food systems transformation (addressed by Prof. Amos Laar and Prof. Jacques Delarue), nutrition and cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) (addressed by Prof. Alan Jackson), mycotoxin food safety risks (addressed by Prof. Sheila Okoth and Dr. Lindy Joy Rose), and the design and scaling of school feeding programmes, featuring experts like Kwadzanai Nyanungo and Dr. Jacqueline Kung’u. Discussions highlighted practical innovations, partnerships (including contributions from Mr Francois Stepman), and the role of resilient systems in sustainable development.

One of the webinar’s greatest strengths was its emphasis on interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder dialogue. Attendees from researchers and academics to policymakers and practitioners, engaged actively through Q&A sessions, fostering connections that extend beyond the event. My closing remarks on Day 2 underscored the importance of translating evidence into tangible improvements in nutrition outcomes across Africa, reinforcing FANUS’s commitment to capacity building and leadership.

The process from idea gathering to delivery revealed key lessons: community input via surveys enhances ownership; balanced global-African speaker representation enriches perspectives; and structured progression from analysis to action sustains engagement. Challenges such as high demand and time-zone coordination were managed effectively through accessible virtual formats. Overall, the IUNS-FANUS webinar demonstrated the power of partnership in advancing nutrition science. It not only disseminated knowledge but also inspired collaborative action toward resilient health systems. As participants carry forward these insights, the event stands as a model for future regional initiatives, strengthening the global nutrition community’s ability to address pressing challenges with context-specific African solutions.

Celebrating 79 years of IUNS!

Founded in 1946, following initial discussions in London, IUNS is proudly entering its 8th decade as the only truly Global Federation of Nutrition Scientists. Officially established at an International Congress in London in 1946, the IUNS has built a strong history of scientific progress, global teamwork and support for nutrition and public health.

Rooted in the belief that “to live a life without malnutrition is a fundamental human right“, IUNS supports the moral imperative to eliminate malnutrition globally. Its core mission is to promote advancement in nutrition science, research and development through global cooperation and extends to fostering scientific communication and leveraging modern communication technologies.

IUNS covers the full spectrum of nutritional science, including but not limited to:

  • Fundamental biochemistry and metabolism
  • Clinical and precision nutrition
  • Public health nutrition and the life-course approach
  • Food science, safety and sustainable diets
  • Epidemiology of non-communicable diseases

These themes are brought to life through IUNS task forces, symposia, conferences and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Throughout these years, IUNS has been involved in key activities and programmes such as :

International Congress of Nutrition (ICN) :

Held every four years, ICNs serve as flagship events, gathering thousands of delegates from across the globe to share research, start important conversations about health policies and highlight new ideas and solutions. Past editions include London (1946), Washington (1960), Mexico City (1972), Rio de Janeiro (1978), Seoul (1989), Durban (2005), Bangkok (2009), Granada (2023), Buenos Aires (2017), Tokyo (2022) and the upcoming Paris session in August 2025 themed “Sustainable Food for Global Health”.

Task Forces :

IUNS Task Forces aim to tackle important nutrition-related issues that need collaboration among individuals or organisations from different parts of the world. Each Task Force has been focusing on a current or emerging issue in the nutrition field that is not getting enough attention or faces challenges that require joint efforts.

Here are the current IUNS Task Forces :

  • ICONIC (International Collaboration on Nutrition in relation to Cancer)
  • Sustainable Diets
  • Precision Nutrition
  • International Malnutrition
  • Traditional and Indigenous Food Systems and Nutrition
  • Towards a Multi-Dimensional Index to Child Growth

Guided by a global Council, IUNS current leadership includes:

  • President (Dr. Lynnette M. Neufeld)
  • Vice-President (Professor Francis Zotor)
  • President-Elect (Professor Hyun-Sook Kim)
  • Secretary-General (Professor Jacques Delarue)
  • Treasurer (Dr. Welma Stonehouse)
  • Immediate Past-President (Professor J. Alfredo Martinez)
  • 6 Council Members representing diverse nations and continents (Professor Barbara Burlingame, Professor Ali Dhansay, Professor Edith Feskens, Dr Rubina Hakeem, Professor Zhaoping Li and Professor Sergio Paiva).

IUNS affiliates national Adhering Bodies, representing the voices of nutrition societies worldwide, along with several observer bodies and affiliated scientific organisations.

Throughout these years, IUNS continues its effort to shape global nutrition policies and dietary guidelines, research frameworks for tackling malnutrition and obesity, standards for food safety and sustainable food systems, and enhanced discourse between scientists, policymakers and practitioners.

Looking ahead, IUNS is expanding representation from low and middle-income countries (LMICs), strengthening governance transparency and developing strategic fundraising involving private sector partnerships while adhering to strict independence guidelines.

As IUNS celebrates its milestone year, we honour nearly 80 years of strong commitment to global nutrition. Its legacy of inclusive governance, scientific rigour and advocacy continues to shape a healthier world!

Day 1 of African Nutrition Society Regional Workshop on School Nutrition. Preconference workshop ahead of ANEC 2024 in Ghana.

ICONIC Task Force 2024 Round Up

ICONIC (International Collaboration on Nutrition in relation to Cancer) one of the IUNS task forces, wraps up 2024 with updates and news on key initiatives: progress in forming a community of practice for nutrition and childhood cancers, the success of CANA’s online grant writing course leading to an international research grant for Africa, and advancements in developing a Quality Assurance Framework for anthropometry in Africa and their involvement in organising a Regional Workshop on School Nutrition convened by the African Nutrition Society at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana in October 2024, as a pre-conference to the 9th Africa Nutrition Conference (ANEC).

They look forward to continuing these efforts in 2025.

To read more follow the link to their full newsletter here: A 2024 round-up and festive wishes from ICONIC!

Join the IUNS: Call for New Task Force Proposals

In advancing the IUNS’ mission, IUNS Task Forces have been an important part of us to collaborate to address key issues in the nutrition field. Over the years, the Council has received queries from Adhering Bodies (ABs) as to how they can propose IUNS Task Forces. By definition, task forces should respond to the pressing need for something to be addressed and should take advantage of IUNS’s global reach and convening power. The Council decided, therefore, to establish new guidelines for the formation and continuity of Task Forces. This will create opportunities for ABs and IUNS constituents to identify, involve and propose Task Forces to address pressing issues about nutrition.

The launch of new Task Forces will start with a call for proposals from November 2024. The deadline for proposal submission will be 5 March 2025. After screening, those who can proceed to the next stage to present their ideas will be notified by 30 April 2025. They will enter an Elevator Pitch Competition at IUNS-ICN Paris 2025 in a special dedicated session. The results will be announced at the end of the IUNS-ICN Paris meeting. Those selected will be the new IUNS Task Forces for the 2025-2029 term.

If you are interested in proposing a new IUNS Task Force, read through the detailed guidelines to prepare your proposal.

Key dates:

Deadline for Proposal Submission: 5th March 2024

Notification of Results (Proposal Stage): 30th April 2025

Presentation at IUNS-ICN Paris: 24th – 29th August 2025

Notification of Final Results: 29th August 2025

If you have any questions, please contact us at office@iuns.org.

IUNS Re-integration Grant: Deadline Extended

We are pleased to inform you that the deadline for applications for the IUNS Re-integration Grant has been extended to 1 December 2024. We understand the importance of adequate time to prepare a strong application, and we hope this additional time will benefit all interested participants.

Designed to support early-career nutritionists who have recently completed their doctoral studies in developed countries, this grant provides financial assistance for various essentials needed to transition smoothly into a new role. Eligible applicants can apply for a grant valued at up to $5,000. Visit the IUNS Re-integration Grant webpage for more information on application requirements and the link to the application portal.

If you have any questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Secretariat at office@iuns.org.

Apply now on our online application platform to be the next awardee! All submissions should be completed before 1 November 2024.

International student scholarships – free registration for the 2nd PNDS International Conference

The 2nd International Conference of the Pakistan Nutrition and Dietetic Society: Triple burden of malnutrition – breaking the silos between the world of undernutrition and NCDS takes place Friday March 11-13, 2022, in Karachi, Pakistan.

Scholarships for students to attend the conference virtually are now available. These IUNS sponsored scholarships are available to international students at all degree levels and covers free registration to attend the conference virtually.

To apply:  

Email conference22regist@gmail.com with the subject title “IUNS Scholarship”.

All applicants must send the following information to be considered:

  1. Full name
  2. Institution name
  3. Email address
  4. Phone/WhatsApp number
  5. Scan of a valid student ID card

Apply Now