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The international union of nutritional sciences and africa in the new millennium
Mark L Wahlqvist
President-Elect International Union of Nutritional Sciences

S A J Clin Nutr 2000 February Vol 13 No 1

Supplement
The International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) is one of the most global of scientific organisations, and a key member of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU). It has a responsibility to develop and apply nutrition science in a way that addresses the fundamental health needs and well-being of peoples worldwide. There is, however, a tendency for the science to be most available where economies are most robust. It is easily forgotten that traditional pre-colonial societies were often food sufficient and self-sustaining, although agricultural methods and pastoral practices were not uncommonly marginal and environmentally detrimental, with corresponding consequences for human health.1

That there should be a vision for a healthier more sustainable Africa is recognised by IUNS, and it is intended that this be a principal theme for the Organisation in the new millennium. Food and its contribution to human health is a way ahead for Africa for several reasons:

• it provides opportunities to respect and maintain tradition, culture, social and value systems through its various roles, while not disallowing innovation
• it recruits science and technology for the betterment of the human condition, tempered by critical appraisal and monitoring of outcomes
• it requires environmental appreciation
• it provides for economic benefit
• it encourages a whole-of-life approach from conception, through to fetal life, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, later life and advanced old age.

The IUNS wishes to build a network of key nutrition personnel in Africa through scientific, leadership and management training; and through every contact, meeting, correspondence, telephone call, fax and e-mail to keep in touch on a frequent basis. This will allow the IUNS to be dynamic and responsive for Africa and the globe.

A greater level of publication of food and nutrition science and policy from Africa for Africa and the world, is a high priority. This will provide advocacy and awareness, problem definition and solution, recognition and motivation, evidence and implementation. Whether present or new publication efforts serve the basis of this literature, or whether we seek to move quickly into the electronic era, with community involvement, are strategic issues.

Evidence-based nutrition (EBN), as in the case of evidence-based health care and medicine, will greatly enhance the food and nutrition effort. Already evidence-based project planning is underway, as with ZOPP (Ziel Orientierte Projekt Planung) and SHARP (Structured, Holistic Approach to Research Planning).2 Unless EBN develops rapidly, with the required multidimensionality, nutrition intervention programmes are at risk of being predicated on a single factor approach, which provides limited solutions. An example would be a project which evaluates progressive diversification of the food supply and associated health change, alongside simple nutrient fortification and related health outcome measures - the former requires a more food cultural approach than the latter; and the latter is easier to conduct. Thus, where it is easier to obtain evidence, it will be more likely that action is planned.

Taking all these matters into account, food, nutrition and health in Africa can and should be improved.

1. Wahlqvist ML, Specht RL. Food variety and biodiversity: Econutrition. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1998; 7: 314-319.
2. Gross R, Karyadi D, Sastroamidjojo S, Schultink W. Guidelines for the development of research proposals following a Structured, Holistic Approach for a Research Proposal (SHARP). Food and Nutrition Bulletin 1998; 19: 268-282.