Tag: Capacity Development

The World Food Forum 2025: A Global Platform for Agrifood Action

Youth are shaping the future of food! The World Food Forum (WFF), hosted by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is holding its 2025 flagship event to drive action on transforming agrifood systems worldwide. The event is guided by the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” celebrating FAO’s 80th anniversary.

Event Details

The WFF provides a dynamic platform focused on three core pillars: Global Youth Action, Science and Innovation, and Investment.

Dates: October 10 – 17, 2025

Location: FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy, and online

Key Highlights: World Food Day, Innovation Labs, and the inauguration of the Food and Agriculture Museum and Network (MuNe).

The week-long program features high-level dialogues, investment forums, and showcases dedicated to achieving a more sustainable and hunger-free future. Registration for both in-person and online participation is open on the official World Food Forum website.

Register

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!

Science Summit 2025: Science for a Sustainable Future

This year, the Science Summit will take place from 9th to 26th September, in New York City and online, alongside the 80th UN General Assembly.

This global event brings together scientists, policymakers and innovators to explore how science can drive progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals whilst staying within planetary boundaries.

This year’s theme highlights the critical role of scientific innovation in ensuring Earth’s stability and resilience. It calls for responsible science that respects natural boundaries and prioritises the well-being of people and the planet.

The key themes will focus on : climate health and digital innovation, AI for science and development, indigenous knowledge and equity and youth participation and science diplomacy.

With over 100 sessions, country showcases and global speakers, the Science Summit promotes collaboration across regions, disciplines and sectors. Participation is free and sessions are open to all virtually or in person.

This Science Summit matters as it is a global platform to turn research into real-world solutions for a fairer and greener future.

For more information, check out the Science Summit’s website.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is commemorated annually on 11 February, highlighting the critical role women and girls play in STEM (STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and the urgent need to address the gender gap in these fields. The 2025 theme, “Equity in Science for a Sustainable Future,” underscores the importance of creating inclusive opportunities for women and girls to actively contribute to solving pressing global challenges like climate change, health crises, and environmental sustainability. Despite making up nearly half of the global population, women remain underrepresented in STEM, with only about 30% of researchers worldwide being women. This day calls for breaking down systemic barriers such as stereotypes, biases, and limited access to education, especially in underserved communities. By empowering women and girls to engage in science equitably, we unlock their potential to drive innovative solutions for a sustainable future, ensuring a more diverse and inclusive global scientific community.

In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) proudly highlights the achievements of female scientists and promising young women shaping the future of STEM. The NSTF celebrates physicist, Prof Igle Gledhill, who has been a steadfast advocate for gender equality in science. She won the inaugural Science Diplomacy for Africa Award at the prestigious 2024 NSTF-South32 Awards, known as the ‘Science Oscars’ of South Africa (SA).

Empowering Mothers to Combat Malnutrition- The Mother-MUAC Initiative for Malnutrition Reduction (MMIMR)

Healthmates Nutrition, in collaboration with community health workers and local partners, is proud to introduce the Mother-MUAC Initiative, a grassroots project designed to empower mothers in rural communities to identify early signs of malnutrition in children under five. By equipping mothers with Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) tapes and training them to perform basic nutritional assessments, the initiative aims to foster timely intervention and reduce cases of severe malnutrition.

The program has successfully rolled out in several communities across the South Tongu and Asutifi South Districts of Ghana, with mothers taking a leading role in monitoring their children’s nutritional status. This proactive approach significantly alleviates the burden on healthcare facilities by promoting community-based surveillance and rapid response.

Key highlights of the initiative include:

  • Training sessions conducted by certified nutritionists and healthcare workers.
  • Distribution of MUAC tapes to participating mothers.
  • Collaboration with local leaders and healthcare providers to ensure accurate referrals and follow-ups.
  • Positive engagement with over 500 households, resulting in increased awareness and early treatment of moderate and severe malnutrition.

The Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics invite IUNS members to learn more about the Mother-MUAC Initiative and explore opportunities for collaboration to expand its reach. Together, we can drive impactful change and contribute to the eradication of child malnutrition globally.

For more details, visit: https://healthmatesnutrition.org/projects-2-3/.

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.

IUNS Re-integration Grant: Apply Now

The IUNS Re-integration Grants are back.

Designed to support early-career nutritionists who have recently completed their doctoral studies in developed countries, the grants provide financial assistance for various essentials needed to transition smoothly into a new role. For eligible applicants from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, there is an opportunity to apply for a grant valued at up to $5,000.

Visit our IUNS Re-integration Grants page under Recognition and Awards for more information and to see how our previous awardees benefitted from the grants.

Apply now on our online application platform to be the next awardee!

All submissions should be completed before 31 October 2024.

EIT Course Banner

FREE EIT Food online course on Nutrition for Health and Sustainability – Starts 04/04 

EIT Food has been developing a new learning opportunity.  

Currently, a key obstacle to medical professionals playing a stronger role in food systems transformation is their lack of training in nutrition.  

If medical doctors had better knowledge of the link between food, health, nutrition and sustainability, they could play an active role in transforming our food system. 

To overcome this gap in knowledge and to reinforce behaviour change towards healthier and sustainable diets, EIT Food has developed a short course on nutrition targeting medical students, doctors and healthcare professionals. 

This course has been designed with and for medical students (undergrad or higher), and has been produced by the University of Reading, the University of Torino, the University of Hohenheim, the University of Groningen, IMDEA Food Institute and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), in collaboration with experts from Harvard University and the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA). 

The course starts on Monday, April 4th 2022. Please find the course registration link here. 

The course is mostly free. It is composed of 12 hours of learning broken down into 3 weeks. 

Learners can study at their own pace, at any time, on any device. 

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