Dr. V. Prakash, Distinguished Scientist of CSIR, India; President of ISNNAN, India; Hon’ Chairman of the Advisory Board of ‘NuFFooDS Spectrum’; and the Chairman of Nutra India Summit, was decorated as the Vice-President of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) for the period 2013-2017, a laudable achievement for India.
Election for the IUNS council was conducted at the council meeting with more than 55 country members of IUNS being present and held during its 20th International Congress at Granada, Spain.
Over 100 countries are adhering bodies of the 65years legacy of IUNS. IUNS is working at a global level to promote advancement in nutrition science, research and development through international cooperation and also to encourage communication and collaboration among food and nutrition scientists as well as to disseminate information in nutritional sciences through modern communication technology. It embraces global nutrition agenda to address food and nutrition problems in developing countries and Capacity Building in the area of Food Science and Nutrition.
IUNS is a part of the prestigious global organisation, International Council for Science (ICSU), which comprises 120 multi-disciplinary national scientific members and associates, and observers representing 140 countries and 38 international, disciplinary scientific unions such IUNS.
Dr. Prakash, who is a Distinguished Scientist in the country from the Food Science and Nutrition field, was the Director of Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) for 16 years. He was President of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology (IAFoST) during 2006-08. Dr. Prakash is fellow of almost all the Academies in India and also of Royal Society of Chemistry and Institute of Food Technology. Dr. Prakash has published more than peer reviewed 200 Research Papers and has delivered more than 500 Keynote Addresses / Inaugural Addresses in conferences & symposia and is author of four books and has 50 patents to his credit. Today his focus is on Nutraceuticals& Nutritionals and Food Safety & Regulatory affairs with an overarching agenda of policy matters in these areas.
Dr. Prakash is awarded “Padmashri” by the Hon’ble President of India in recognition of his outstanding service to the Nation in the field of Science during 2004 which tops the list of more than 25 major awards he has bagged in India and abroad. His election as Vice-President of IUNS is worthy indeed for IUNS is now enriched with a person like Dr. Prakash to drive the organisation from the top with policy matter.
Dr. Prakash says, “We cannot rest till the last child is prevented from hunger and malnutrition & quality maternal nutrition, which remains a top priority agenda globally, is ensured.”