First World Congress of Public Health Nutrition, Barcelona

The First World Congress of Public Health Nutrition gathered researchers of the field from September 28th to 30th at the International Conventions Centre of Barcelona. Barcelona is one of the most beautiful Spanish cities. This Congress also put together the different generations of people who made and are shaping the field of nutrition, all the "big" names were present of course, as well as many promising young scientists.

In the first picture one can see José Ma. Bengoa and Francisco Mardones Sr. in both extremes, two pioneers of public health nutrition, and who worked together in the INCAP (Guatemala).

It was of course an opportunity for many to meet friends and strenghten existing collaborations between institutions, researchers or countries, and also to explore new options for joint research ventures.

In the second picture Professors Friel (Australia), De Henauw (Belgium) and Naska (Greece). In the third picture, Xochitl Ponce, who is finalizing her MSc in Canada, and will probably continue to a PhD.

The students of the last International Course in Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Gent, were well represented with posters and oral communications. In the fourth picture, Javier Medina a peruvian student presenting his poster. The University of Ghent was well represented: Dr. Christophe Matthijs, from the UGent's Faculty of Medicine received the prize to the best oral presentation in English.

The plenaries were challenging. Many truths have been said, it was about time, that for example, someone like Prof. Ricardo Uauy, the President of the IUNS, says something about the limitations of the FAO food balance sheets for public health nutrition purposes. Prof. Noel Solomons pointed out the developmental origins of health and disease as the new challenge for the field.



While on the lecture rooms we were dealing with improving dietary consumption in different populations, downstairs paradoxically, the first thing one could see after entering the exposition area, was the stand of a multinational company, well known for its "contribution" to the field of public health nutrition ... the one that reads, understands.


The program was too heavy, and probably it would have needed one day more. Suceeding to make short oral presentations of 7 minutes is an art, and isn't evident. Anyway, it was a great time, and congratulations to the organisers.