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!
Source: https://iuns.org/2025/07/celebrating-iu ... niversary/
