IFPRI is participating in the 23rd International Congress of Nutrition (ICN), hosted by the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) on August 24-29 in Paris, France.
The theme of this year’s congress is “Sustainable Food for Global Health,” bringing together experts to discuss evidence and innovations in nutrition, sustainability, food science, and public health. IFPRI researchers will contribute to the dialogue through lectures, posters, and scientific symposia, sharing insights on diets, food environments, nutrition interventions, and multisectoral approaches.
Learn more about IUNS-ICN at https://www.icn2025.org
August 25, 2025
Women’s experiences in the food environment and its association with fruit and vegetable intake: Insights from Northern Tanzania | Short Oral Abstract Presentation | 8:00am – 9:30am (CET)
- Nishmeet Singh, PhD Student, University of Edinburgh
- Lily Bliznashka, Research Fellow, IFPRI
Who is being reached? Rethinking how to collect, analyze, and use data on the coverage of multisectoral nutrition interventions | Scientific Symposium | 11:15am – 12:45pm (CET)
Chairs:
- Rebecca Heidkamp, Associate Research Professor, Johns Hopkins University
- Masresha Tessema, Research Director, Ethiopian Public Health Institute
Speakers:
- Rebecca Heidkamp, Associate Research Professor, Johns Hopkins University
- Sunny Kim, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Melinda Munos, Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins University
- Swetha Manohar, Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Phuong Nguyen, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
August 26, 2025
Advancing the global political nutrition agenda: Fostering better collaboration between the United Nations System and academia | Scientific Symposium | 8:00am – 9:30am (CET)
Chairs:
- Lynnette Neufeld, Director, Food and Nutrition Division, FAO
- Trudy Wijnhoven, Nutrition Officer, FAO
Speakers:
- Inge Brouwer, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Lynnette Neufeld, Director, Food and Nutrition Division, FAO
- Luz Maria De-Regil, Director of Nutrition and Food Safety, WHO
Reconsidering the potential of growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) in low- and middle-income countries | Scientific Symposium | 8:00am – 9:30am (CET)
Chairs:
- Leila Larson, Assistant Professor, University of South Carolina
- Jef L. Leroy, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
Speakers:
- Edward Frongillo, Professor, University of South Carolina
- Jef L. Leroy, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Leila Larson, Assistant Professor, University of South Carolina
- Rebecca Brander, Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Rasmi Avula, Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Linda Shaker Berbari, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF
How do food environments shape adolescent diets? Evidence from Ghana, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Nepal, India, and Bangladesh | Scientific Symposium | 11:15am – 12:45pm (CET)
Chairs:
- Richmond Aryeetey, Professor, University of Ghana
- Jef L. Leroy, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
Speakers:
- Richmond Aryeetey, Professor, University of Ghana
- Gabriela Fretes, Associate Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Lieven Huybregts, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Elodie Becquey, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Meron Girma, Nutritionist, Ethiopia National Information Platform for Nutrition
- Samuel Scott, Research Fellow, IFPRI
Nutrition-sensitive social protection program coverage : Using mixed methods to develop new measures for household surveys | Short Oral Abstract Presentation | 17:40 – 17:45 (CET)
- Sumanta Neupane, Program Manager, IFPRI
August 27, 2025
An end-to-end food systems approach to increasing fruit and vegetable intake in Tanzania | Scientific Symposium | 8:00am – 9:30am (CET)
Chairs:
- Joyce Kinabo, Professor, Sokoine University of Agriculture
- Deanna Olney, Director, Nutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH), IFPRI
Speakers:
- Wiston Mwombeki, FRESH Country Coordinator, World Vegetable Center
- Fusta Azupogo, Lecturer, University for Development Studies
- Quinn Marshall, Associate Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Jenny Ekman, Research Scientist, Applied Horticultural Research
- Mathieu Ayenan, Researcher, World Vegetable Center
- Lily Bliznashka, Research Fellow, IFPRI
One Nutrition Coverage Survey – learnings from a methods-driven household survey to estimate co-coverage and equity of multisectoral nutrition interventions | Short Oral Abstract Presentation | 11:15am – 12:45pm (CET)
- Swetha Manohar, Research Fellow, IFPRI
Linear growth velocity varies by severity of thinness in Nepali preschoolers | Short Oral Abstract Presentation | 11:55am – 12:00pm (CET)
- Swetha Manohar, Research Fellow, IFPRI
Social determinants of double burden of malnutrition among children and adolescents in South-Eastern Asia: A quantitative systematic review | Short Oral Abstract Presentation | 14:00 – 15:30 (CET)
- Phuong Nguyen, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
Maximizing cash “plus” for maternal and child nutrition – evidence from Somalia, Ethiopia, and Malawi | Scientific Symposium | 16:45 – 18:15 (CET)
Chair:
- Natalie Roschnik, Senior Nutrition Advisor, Save the Children
Speakers:
- Aulo Gelli, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Natalie Roschnik, Senior Nutrition Advisor, Save the Children
- Phindile Lupafya, Senior Technical Advisory, Save the Children Malawi
- Shelley Walton, Senior Research Associate, Johns Hopkins University
- Binyam Gebru, Deputy Director of Program Development and Quality, Save the Children Somalia
- Corina Campian, Director of Nutrition, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation
WHO/UNICEF Team Update: What It Takes for Successful Global Nutrition Monitoring Though the Lifecycle – Challenges and Opportunities | Scientific Symposium | 16:45 – 18:15 (CET)
Monitoring Child and Adolescent Growth
- Jef L. Leroy, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
August 28, 2025
Strengthening Demand for Vegetables: Evidence, Investment Opportunities, and Programmatic Learnings | Scientific Symposium | 8:00am – 9:30am (CET)
Chairs:
- Deanna Olney, Director, Nutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH), IFPRI
- W. Gonzalez
Speakers:
- Anthony Wenndt, Technical Officer, GAIN
- Erin McGuire, Director, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture
- Eva Monterrosa, Program Lead, GAIN
- Ilana Cliffer, Food Systems Scientist, World Vegetable Center
- Nadia Koyratty, Associate Research Fellow, IFPRI
Improving the healthiness of food environments in low- and middle-income countries – evidence from Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Vietnam, and the Philippines | Scientific Symposium | 8:00am – 9:30am (CET)
Chairs:
- Jef L. Leroy, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Folake O. Samuel, Professor, University of Ibadan
Speakers:
- Jef L. Leroy, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Stella Nordhagen, Senior Technical Specialist, GAIN
- Deborah Nabuuma, Associate Scientist, Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT
- Silvia Alonso, Senior Scientist Epidemiologist, ILRI
- Folake O. Samuel, Professor, University of Ibadan
- Alan de Brauw, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Edmundo Bacatan, Quezon City Market Development and Administration Department (MDAD) Assistant Head
Understanding drivers of food choice to improve diets – opportunities and challenges across the food system | Scientific Symposium | 8:00am – 9:30am (CET)
Chair:
- Purnima Menon, Senior Director, Food and Nutrition Policy; Acting Senior Director, Transformation Strategy, IFPRI
Speakers:
- Fahmida Akter, Senior Research Fellow, BRAC University
- Christine Blake, Professor, University of South Carolina
- Agnes Le Port, Research Fellow, IRD Montpellier
- Sophie Nicklaus, Research Director, INRAE
- Rebecca Pradeilles, Visiting Fellow, IRD Montpellier
- Samuel Scott, Research Fellow, IFPRI
Addressing the Multiple Burdens of Malnutrition through Double-/Multiple-Duty Actions: A call for Integrated Approaches | Scientific Symposium | 11:15am – 12:45pm (CET)
Chair:
- Marie Ruel, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
Speakers:
- Corinna Hawkes, Director, Division of Food Systems and Food Safety, FAO
- Simone Gie, Nutritionist, FAO
- Amos Laar, Professor, University of Ghana
- Rebecca Pradeilles, Visiting Fellow, IRD Montpellier
Nudging for good – AI-driven diagnostics and behavior change to improve diets and nutrition | Scientific Symposium | 11:15am – 12:45pm (CET)
Chair:
- Aulo Gelli, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
Speakers:
- Aulo Gelli, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Renuka Silva, Professor, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
- Gloria K. Folson, Research Fellow, University of Ghana
- Phuong Nguyen, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Lauren E. Au, Associate Professor, University of California, Davis
Impact of adding milk to a micronutrient fortified biscuit school feeding program: An effectiveness trial in a protracted conflict setting | Oral Abstract Presentation | 14:00 (CET)
- Lily Bliznashka, Research Fellow, IFPRI
August 29, 2025
Measuring coverage of large-scale food fortification at the household level: limitations and opportunities | Oral Abstract Presentation | 8:50am – 9:00am (CET)
- Samuel Scott, Research Fellow, IFPRI