American Society for Nutrition (ASN) leaders, staff, and members represented ASN at the 22nd International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) International Congress of Nutrition (ICN), which was held December 6-11, 2022, in Tokyo, Japan. The Congress is typically held every four years but was rescheduled from 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The theme of this year’s ICN was “The Power of Nutrition for the Smiles of 10 Billion People.”
ASN had more than 25 members in attendance, including ASN President Martha Belury and immediate past President Paul Coates. Many ASN members participated as organizers and speakers in various sessions throughout the conference. ASN organized two sessions held at the Congress. “Getting Your Manuscript Published: Practical Tips for Preparing Your Manuscript, Avoiding Common Mistakes, and Choosing the Right Journal” featured two of ASN’s journal editors, Katy Tucker and Teresa Davis, also an ASN past President. “Moving towards global harmonization of approaches to deriving NRVs” featured past President Lindsay Allen, among other ASN members. ASN also co-sponsored a session, “Eating to protect our health and our planet.”
ASN staff and leaders met with many other nutrition societies from around the world while at the Congress. These meetings highlighted opportunities for collaboration and allowed the Societies to learn from one another. The various nutrition societies that ASN met with are listed below:
Japan Society for Nutrition and Food Sciences (JSNFS);
Federation of European Nutrition Societies (FENS);
Serbian Nutrition Society (SNS);
Société Française de Nutrition (SFN);
Vietnam Nutrition Association (VINUTAS);
Finnish Society for Nutrition Research (SRY);
Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM);
Nutrition Society of Taiwan (NST);
Korean Nutrition Society (KNS);
Sociedad Chilena de Nutrición (SOCHINUT);
Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA);
Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN);
Chinese Nutrition Society (CNS);
Federation of African Nutrition Societies (FANUS);
The Nutrition Society (NS);
Swedish National Committee of Nutrition Science (KVA);
Indonesian Nutrition Association; and the
Nutrition Society of South Africa (NSSA).
An ASN delegation also took part in the IUNS General Assembly. The work of IUNS is directed by the General Assembly, which only meets during each Congress. The General Assembly consists of delegates appointed by the adhering bodies. At present, IUNS has 80 adhering bodies, including ASN, and 15 affiliated bodies. US-based ASN member Dr. Zhaoping Li along with 8 international ASN members were elected to serve on the 12-person IUNS Council, serving as IUNS officers and Council members through 2025. The Council serves as the IUNS executive group between General Assembly meetings. The 23rd IUNS ICN and General Assembly meeting, with the theme “Sustainable Food for Global Health,” will take place in Paris, France on August 24-29, 2025.
