February 2026

Celebrating 5 Years!

In this conversation with IAFNS Executive Director Wendelyn Jones, we explore the Impact, Leadership, and the Future of IAFNS as IAFNS celebrates its fifth birthday this month. Our interview highlights how IAFNS is catalyzing science that matters for public health.

Question: As IAFNS celebrates five years, what does this milestone represent?

WJ: The fifth anniversary of IAFNS is more than a celebration — it marks five years of building a model designed to strengthen trust in science and elevate credible, actionable research in food safety and nutrition.

IAFNS was founded with a clear mission: to mobilize government, industry, and academia to drive, fund, and lead science that supports public health. Over the past five years, that mission has translated into measurable impact. The organization has catalyzed scientific knowledge by funding research, convening experts, and creating spaces where complex and sometimes controversial topics can be addressed collaboratively and constructively. IAFNS has achieved this through hundreds of meetings, conference presentations, webinars and research papers.

This milestone reflects growth in scale, impact, and credibility — but perhaps most importantly, it reflects the strength of its members. IAFNS is member-led and member-focused. Its achievements are a direct result of cross-sector engagement and shared commitment to advancing science for public benefit. Our collective voice in the food and beverage ecosystem defines the science — and that science helps define our shared future.

Question: How do IAFNS’ Core Values anchor the work of IAFNS?

WJ: In an environment where science is often scrutinized through political or ideological lenses, IAFNS is positioned as a convener of expertise from across the food and beverage ecosystem. The emphasis is not just on producing science, but on catalyzing research that can inform real-world decision-making — from policymakers to practitioners to consumers.

And, we do this by grounding all IAFNS activities in our core values:

  • Scientific Integrity
  • Transparency
  • Collaboration
  • Public Benefit

These are not abstract principles — they guide funding decisions, research priorities, committee structures, and public engagement. We fully support the publication of IAFNS-funded research without regard to the findings. We take care to ensure that IAFNS-funded science is available open access.  And, we host webinars that are open to all, regardless of IAFNS affiliation, on topics across food safety and nutrition.

Question: What impact has IAFNS made in five years?

WJ: The numbers tell a powerful story.

In 2025 alone, IAFNS achieved:

  • 14 peer-reviewed publications
  • 17 invitation-only events
  • 38 webinars and events
  • 10 sessions with partner organizations
  • 1,040 media mentions

Across five years, the cumulative impact is even more striking:

  • 96 peer-reviewed publications
  • 250+ webinars and events
  • 62 collaborative sessions with other groups
  • 2,332 media mentions

Beyond metrics, IAFNS has earned the Platinum GuideStar Seal of Transparency for 2026 — a distinction achieved by only a small percentage of nonprofits. This recognition underscores the organization’s commitment to openness and accountability.

But impact is not only measured in publications or events. It is reflected in strengthened networks, shared understanding across sectors, and progress on scientific questions that may otherwise have remained underfunded or unaddressed.

Question: What makes IAFNS different?

WJ: The defining feature of IAFNS is its tripartite model, which brings together government, academia, and industry in structured collaboration. This model recognizes that no single sector holds all the answers.

Members consistently highlight that this structure allows conversations that “don’t usually sit at the same table.” It creates a space where scientific disagreements can be explored constructively and where shared research gaps can be identified and addressed collectively. It also allows us to address emerging topics like precision nutrition and AI-based apps that support accessing credible information on food right from the grocery aisle.

This approach has resulted in:

  • Foundational peer-reviewed publications
  • Practical tools and databases (such as sodium reduction and fiber resources)
  • High-impact scientific sessions and webinars
  • Advances in areas that are complex, controversial, or underfunded

At IAFNS, the tripartite model is not simply about representation — it is about collaboration with accountability and leadership through shared purpose.

Question: What Excites You About the Future of IAFNS?

WJ: As I look ahead, what excites me most is the momentum we’ve built — and the leadership opportunities that come with it.

Over the past five years, we have demonstrated that meaningful collaboration between government, academia, and industry is not only possible, but powerful. We’ve shown that when diverse perspectives sit at the same table — guided by scientific integrity, transparency, collaboration, and a shared commitment to public benefit — we can advance science in ways that truly matter.

What energizes me now is the opportunity to go further.

I’m excited about deepening our cross-sector collaboration and expanding the spaces where constructive, evidence-based dialogue can happen. I’m excited about growing our educational programming — more workshops, more symposia, more opportunities to translate complex science into informed action.

I’m particularly inspired by the scientific questions on the horizon. From evolving dietary patterns to sodium reduction, from microbial food safety to emerging nutrition challenges, we have important work ahead of us. These are not simple issues — and that’s precisely why our model matters.

I’m also excited about growth — not just in size, but in impact. Increasing member engagement. Broadening the diversity of perspectives at the table. Funding projects that address underexplored or controversial topics with rigor and credibility. Ensuring that the science we catalyze informs real-world decisions — from policy to practice to product development.

We are operating in a time when trust in science is under pressure. Complex research is often reduced to simple narratives. Public discourse can outpace evidence. In that environment, I believe our responsibility is even greater.

For me, the future of IAFNS is about leading in science.

It’s about advancing the science — yes — but also advancing the conversation around science. It’s about demonstrating that collaboration across sectors strengthens credibility , not weakens it. And it’s about ensuring that the work we do ultimately advances public health.

Our collective voice in the food and beverage ecosystem defines the science — and that science helps define our shared future.

That excites me. And it motivates me to ensure that the next five years have even more impact than the first five years.

Interested in learning more? Email us at science@iafns.org.