In Memoriam – Jo Hautvast

Jo Hautvast was originally trained in tropical medicine. Following his strong interest in nutrition, he proceeded in 1971 with an additional degree in Nutrition Sciences at the Dunn Nutrition Laboratory in Cambridge, UK. This combination of knowledge and interests made him in 1972, the ideal successor of professor Cees den Hartog as Full Professor and Chair of Human Nutrition at the Agricultural University Wageningen (later: Wageningen University).

With his interest in the field and in people, his strong leadership and pioneering entrepreneurship, he made Human Nutrition prominent in terms of education and research that met a societal need. The first MSc degrees in human nutrition sciences were awarded in 1974. Over the years, he and his team trained a large number of students who proceeded to hold crucial positions both in the Netherlands and abroad.

Internationally, he was successful in obtaining and directing one of the first large EU research programs, the EURONUT Concerted Action program, in 1982. He was active in the Federation of European Nutrition Societies (FENS) and served three terms as Secretary-General of the International Union of Nutrition Sciences (IUNS).

Around 1990, he strongly advocated the importance of starting up postgraduate science courses, especially targeting PhD students. Also, he started a leadership program for PhD students in nutrition sciences in Europe focusing on specific skills relevant and needed for getting a position after obtaining a PhD degree. In 1994, this annual 8-day European Nutrition Leadership Program (ENLP) started, a highly appreciated essential course, later supplemented with an advanced course and NLPs on other continents.

After a successful career of more than 28 years at Wageningen University, he left the University in 2000 and accepted a four year position as Director of the Wageningen Center for Food Sciences (WCFS, later TI Food and Nutrition). This was one of four top technological institutes in the Netherlands supported by the Minister of Economic Affairs, food industry and academic institutions. It was a first endeavor in public-private partnership research in nutrition in the country. Jo held this position upon retirement age in 2004.

From 1994 to 2004, he served as Vice-President of the Health Council in the Netherlands, an important role in which he was responsible for the scientific report on dietary guidelines, nutritional requirements and related advices asked by the ministry of Public Health.

Professor Jo Hautvast was chair or member of various supervisory boards in the Dutch public sector, such as the RIVM (National Institute of Public Health and the Environment) and the Dutch Nutrition Center (The Hague) and the regional hospital Gelderse Vallei, and similarly had roles in the private sector as member of the supervisory board of, amongst others, Royal Wessanen, Unilever and Friesland Foods. Prof. Hautvast was also involved in (international) research funding bodies, he was chair of the Nutricia Research Foundation until 2021 and member of the Nestlé Foundation.

During his long career, professor Hautvast was awarded many prestigious medals and prizes from Nutrition Societies Worldwide and a Honorary Doctorate at Potchefstroom University, South Africa. On the top of this list is the Royal Distinction ‘Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion‘ (Ridder in de Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw) that was awarded in 1996 based on all his accomplishments until that time, including important societal activities outside the academic world. This year, he was awarded the Living Legend Award of the IUNS for his significant, long-term contribution to nutrition science, policy, and the well-being of populations. We will miss our legendary helmsman and mentor. We are very grateful for all he meant for nutrition science, his continued commitment to the Division of Human Nutrition and Health, and his sincere interest in everyone’s wellbeing.

We wish his wife Marlou, his children, grandchildren and other family members all the strength to cope with this great and unexpected loss.

Colleagues of the Division of Human Nutrition and Health

Gerda Feunekes, Director of the Agrotechnology and Food Sciences Group

Frans Kok, Emeritus professor and former head of the Division Human Nutrition and Health