Advocacy and Science Policy
ASN serves as the authoritative voice informing Congress and the Administration of the need and value for continued support of nutrition research through federal government advocacy.
ASN educates policymakers on advances in nutrition science and the importance of developing legislation and regulations that are based in science.
The Society’s members, working throughout academia, industry, clinical practice and government, conduct research that allows individuals to live healthier and more productive lives.
2021-2023 ASN Advocacy and Science Policy Priority Areas
Every two years the ASN Committee on Advocacy and Science Policy reevaluates its priority areas for the upcoming two years. This list is primarily used to highlight key focus areas that will inform the ongoing and upcoming work of the Committee on Advocacy and Science Policy and of ASN’s Chief Science Policy Officer.
Priority Area 1: Nutrition Research
- Advocate for increased federal investment in nutrition research including that from agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as programs such as the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs.
- Educate Congress and policy leaders about the benefits of nutrition research and monitoring, and its impact on public health.
- Foster and strengthen relationships with Congress and federal agencies in order to seek opportunities for advocacy.
- Support the inclusion of nutrition research and food/nutrition monitoring within the upcoming Farm Bill.
- Update ASN’s Nutrition Research Priorities and highlight focus areas for federal investment.
- Strengthen national nutrition research among federal agencies.
- Encourage widespread attention within the nutrition research community around the ASN Nutrition Research Task Force report to foster better understanding and appreciation for the breadth of nutrition science, promote collaboration among nutrition scientists, and improve nutrition science translation.
- Support existing efforts to elevate nutrition research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including the 2020-2030 Strategic Plan for NIH Nutrition Research and Nutrition for Precision Health, powered by All of Us.
- Promote coordination of national nutrition research across the federal government.
- Support rebuilding the human capacity of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Economic Research Service.
Priority Area 2: National Nutrition Policies
- Support the translation and implementation of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) and set the stage for evidence-based 2025 DGAs.
- Implement recommendations from the “Best practices in nutrition science to earn and keep the public’s trust” report to lend credence to nutrition research and its resulting recommendations.
- Support a process for timely updates of the Dietary Reference Intakes to provide current, accurate data to be used in the DGAs and with which to identify nutrients of public health concern.
- Foster evidence-based policies, guidelines, and programs across the food system by providing comments and testimony as appropriate for federal activities related to nutrition.
- Advocate for research to elucidate and enhance the translation of nutrition research into evidence-based policies, guidelines, and programs, as well as research to improve consumer education on these important areas.
Priority Area 3: Education, Networking and Partnerships
- Organize webinars and other programs to inform ASN members about nutrition science policy and current related issues.
- Grow the Nutrition Action Alliance.
- Increase ASN member involvement in ASN’s advocacy efforts.
- Nominate ASN members to federal advisory boards.
- Grow the ASN Science Policy Fellowship.
Looking to get involved in nutrition science policy?
Here are 10 ways you can get involved!