We are very sad to announce the passing of one of our most distinguished Honorary Fellows - Professor Jo Hautvast.
Professor Hautvast studied both medicine and social anthropology at Radboud University in Nijmegen. After training in tropical medicine he worked for a period of three years (1967–70) as medical officer in charge of a 72-bed Igogwe mission hospital in the south-western highlands in Tanzania. There he was confronted with the serious nutritional health problems of the region’s people. When he returned to Radboud Medical School he became interested in nutrition sciences.
He next studied for a nutrition degree at Cambridge University/Dunn Nutrition Unit (1971–72). In 1972, he was appointed full Professor in Nutrition Sciences and Chairman of the Department of Human Nutrition at Wageningen University (WU). In 2000 he was appointed as Director of the Wageningen Centre of Food Sciences, a large public-private research institute. From 1994 to 2004 he served as Vice-President of the Health Council of the Netherlands.
In 1994 he was instrumental in forming the European Nutrition Leadership Programme (ENLP), becoming known as the proud Father of the, still active today, programme.
He was active in the International Union of Nutrition Sciences (IUNS) and served from 1985 to 1997 as Secretary-General.
In 1996 he received the Royal Distinction of a Knighthood in the Order of the Dutch Lion. In 1983 he was appointed Correspondent Étranger Académie d’Agriculture de France. In 2004 he received the Honorary Doctorate at Potchefstroom University, South Africa.