Background
Nutrition involves the regular consumption of the proper amount of calories, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and many other nutrients found in food. The amount of these nutrients necessary for a healthy lifestyle differs among individuals based on age, activity level, etc. Adequate nutrition promotes the maintenance of a healthy weight and the prevention of related diseases and conditions (e.g., nutrient deficiencies, obesity, osteoporosis, heart disease, behavior and psychological conditions).
In spite of two decades of a comprehensive Iranian primary health care program plus heavy investments in food subsidies, an intensive population control program, improved adult literacy, high rates of enrollment in primary and secondary education and almost universal access to mass media, close to 25 million Iranians are at risk of some kind of diet related health problems. High rates of child growth failure, micronutrient deficiencies, poverty related household food insecurity and rapid emergence of degenerative disease and obesity are serious causes for concern at high levels of health and national development policy.
Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology was established in 1961. This institute is responsible to perform research, educational (academic and public), advocate and consultative activities in food and nutrition areas, including:
- Identification of nutritional problems and their causes
- Analysis of national and macro strategies/policies on food and nutrition
- Designing and testing community-based programs and projects aimed to improving household food and nutrition security and nutritional well-being of Iranian population
- Performing research and training on dietetics and clinical nutrition
- Collaboration with industry in formulation of new products and improving quality and vitality
- Working on basic aspects of food and nutrition sciences
- Food and nutrition advocacy
- Consultation to governmental and non-governmental organization
- Training and education in food and nutrition to build human capacity and improve public knowledge in food and nutrition
- Providing nutritional standards and reference values
These responsibilities, areas of activities and team of experts have made the NNFTRI a key body in different processes of the food and nutrition system in Iran.
We hope that short- and long-term benefits derived from the activities in this Institute can be more efficiently transferred to whole population in the country as well as to the region and the world.
History
By Virtue of a council of Ministers Decree, the National Institute of Food and Nutrition with its affiliated Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology (FNS-FT) was established in 1961. The name was changed, in 1991, to National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute (NNFTRI). The Institute is an autonomous body academically affiliated with Sh. Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services (SBUMS-HS) in Tehran. Since early 1990s, the NNFTRI has been acting as a collaborating centre to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Iran.
The main responsibility of the Institute is conducting research to create and/or adapt knowledge, and to assist the government in promotion of the national food and nutrition status. It mission is to identify food and nutritional problems and their causes within Iranian population, to provide scientific data basis and assistance for policy-making, programming and evaluation purposes, to create basic knowledge in the fields of Nutrition and Food Sciences, to train specialists in food and nutrition for managerial, research and educational proposes and to make communication and advocacy activities at different levels.
Vision and Mission of Institute and Faculty of nutrition and food technology
Institute Vision
1- To become
- One of the most prestigious academic and research institute word wild
- The major academic- and research reference in national food and nutrition system
- Reference in food and nutrition sciences
2- To be run
- Based on Information Technology
- With assistance of developed human resources
Faculty Vision
The vision is to train nutrition professionals who offer efficient and effective practice of the highest possible standard and safety, founded on up-to-date research and knowledge. They will meet the present and future health care needs of the people as members of the health team in a cost effective manner in a variety of setting, with the ultimate goal of contributing to the maintenance and for improvement of quality of life.
Institute Mission
The NNFTRI is an academic, research, counselling, and educational national organisation in the field of food and nutrition which is active in developing food and nutrition sciences as well as providing health and food and nutrition security of the population.
Faculty Mission
Strengthened by a rich belief in human worth, the mission of school of nutrition is 1) to prepare professionally educated nutritionists who are capable of the moral, intellectual, and professional leadership needed to provide continuing quality in nutrition education, and in nutrition services, and 2) to advance nutrition knowledge and skill through scientific inquiry and other scholarly activity.
Organogram of Institute and Faculty of nutrition and food technology
History of Institute's Directors
Dr. Hbibollah Hedayat established Iran’s Institute of Nutrition in 1961, and he was dean and manager of this institute for more than 16 years. The table shows the name and duration of other dean and deputies after Dr. Hedayat.
|
Name
|
Education
|
Directory Time
|
Length of responsibility
|
Research Deputy
|
Education Deputy
|
Administration and Financial Deputy
|
|
Dr. Habibollah Hedayat
|
M.D of Obstetrics,
MSc of Nutrition
|
1961- 1976
|
16 yrs
|
Dr. Mohsen Bavandi
|
-
|
-
|
|
Dr. Hossein Ghasemi
|
PhD of Pharmacology,
MSc of Nutrition, BSc of Management and planning of Food and Nutrition
|
1976- 1978
|
2 yrs
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Dr. Habibollah Hedayat
|
M.D of Obstetrics,
MSc of Nutrition
|
1978
|
3 months
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Dr. Mesbahedin Balaghi
|
Ph.D of Biochemistry
|
1978- 1980
|
2 yrs
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Dr. Seyed Jamaledin Bastani
|
Physician
|
1980- 1985
|
5 yrs
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Dr. Azim Akbar-zadeh
|
Ph.D of Biochemistry
|
1985- 1986
|
1 yr
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Dr. Mohammad-reza Hasas
|
PhD of Food Chemistry
|
1986-1990
|
4 yrs
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Dr. Mesbahedin Balaghi
|
Ph.D of Biochemistry
|
1990-1991
|
1 yr
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Dr. Seyed Masoud Kimiagar
|
PhD of Nutrition
|
1991- 1998
|
8 yrs
|
Dr. Abolghasem Djazayeri
|
Iraj Gaeeni- Hossein Motevali-zadeh Ardakani
|
Fereydoon Yeganeh- Hassan Nazari
|
|
Dr. Nasser Kalantari
|
MD Pediatrics
|
1998- 2005
|
8 yrs
|
Dr. Mirhossein Ziabari- Dr. Mohammad-hossein Azizi
|
Iraj Gaeeni- Dr. Mostafa Mirghotbi- Dr. Rohollah Ferdosi
|
Rasool Eivaz-zadeh
|
|
Dr. Ahmad-reza Dorosty Motlagh
|
PhD of Nutrition
|
2005- current
|
5 yrs
|
Dr. Hedayat Hoseini- Dr. Morteza Abdollahi
|
|
|