Recommended Guidelines for Abstract Submission
The Organizing and Scientific Committees of the ANC (ANEC X) 2026, being organized by the African Nutrition Society (ANS) and Namibian Association of Nutritionist (NAN), cordially invite persons involved in researcher, academics, policymakers, government officials, development partners, healthcare professionals, nutritionists, dietitians, food scientists, agricultural experts, civil society organizations, private sector representatives, and students to submit abstracts either for Oral or Poster presentation. ANC (ANEC X) 2026 will be held from 30th November to 4th December 2026 at the Windhoek International Convention Centre, Windhoek, Namibia
Abstracts can include:
| New research | Unpublished research and/or secondary analysis of data |
| Methods | Newly established or characterized methods, or evaluations of existing methods |
| Protocols | Descriptions of proposed studies, or recruitment and process results of newly started studies |
| Case study report | A case report is a means of disseminating new knowledge gained from clinical practice |
Key Dates
- Abstract submission opens: 1 July 2026,
- Abstract submission closes: 22 September 2026, 11:59 PM GMT
- Abstract acceptance/rejection notifications sent: 30 September 2026
- Abstract programming assignments sent 15th October 2026
General Criteria for Abstract Submission
- Authors must review the conference subthemes to decide which subtheme fits their abstract before submitting.
- A person could be the presenting author for no more than two abstracts but must address different research.
- Abstracts may be submitted for oral or poster presentations.
- Abstracts must be submitted online through the ANC 2026 Abstract Submission website only, from July 1, 2026. Report any challenges encountered while submitting your abstract through the online help tool or contact the ANC (ANEC X) 2026 Secretariat using this email anc2026abstracts@ansnet.org.
- The presenting author(s) of the accepted abstracts must be registered participants at ANC (ANEC X) 2026. Co-authors can be included in the abstract.
- Please proofread abstract submissions carefully because edits will not be made by ANC 2026 staff or the ANC 2026 Scientific Committee. Abstracts will be published verbatim using the text and author information provided during abstract submission.
- Only abstracts of authors who meet the abstract submission deadline, have followed the submission guidelines, and have at least one author registered will be selected for inclusion in the Book of Abstracts and presentation, and published in the maiden African Journal of Nutrition, ANS’s journal.
- Submission of an abstract signifies your acceptance for the abstract to be published in all printed materials of the conference.
- Abstracts must be written and submitted only in English.
- Conflicts of Interest / Disclosure: Authors are required to disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest. including an acknowledgement of funding sources of commercial nature, consulting relationships, or holding of significant equity in an organization that could influence the validity of the research presented.
- Abstracts must be original and should NOT have been submitted or presented at any other scientific programme or conference.
- Authors are NOT permitted to submit an abstract on work that has previously been published. If additional data or research is added to a previously published work the abstract could be accepted.
Abstract Contents
Please include the following information:
- Presenting author’s contact details
- Full first and last name(s).
- Authors’ names must be in a title case (e.g., Kwamena E.A. Mensah)
- Email address for the presenting author
- Phone number
- Affiliation details: Department, Institution / Hospital, City/State (as appropriate), Country
- Co-authors’ details
The abstract submission should identify all co-authors who have substantially contributed to the concept, data collection and analysis, or preparation of the abstract and therefore may have intellectual property claims to the content.
- Full first and family name(s).
- Authors’ names must be in a title case (e.g., Kwamena E.A. Mensah).
- Affiliation details: Department, Institution / Hospital, City/State (as appropriate), Country
- The presenting author’s name should be underlined.
- Abstract title – Should be concise, accurate, and informative. Not longer than 30 words, and must be in UPPER CASE
- Abstract text: Limited to 300 words, excluding keywords.
- Use Arial, font size 12. We recommend using word-processing software for editing your abstract and counting the number of words. Use standard abbreviations for units of measure.
- Other abbreviations should be spelt out in full at first mention, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses.
- Abstract text should clearly state:
- Background and objectives
- Methods
- Results
- Conclusions
- Keywords (4 –5 maximum)
- Conflict of Interest Disclosure (if any)
- The structured abstract should not include subheadings other than those indicated above.
- NO references are needed.
- The structured abstract should NOT include tables or figures.
Case Study Report Instructions
For abstracts submitted as a Case Study Report within the topical area of Medical Nutrition/Case Study Vignettes, a clinical vignette or case report is a means of disseminating new knowledge gained from clinical practice. It can address an unusual condition; a complication of a known disease; an unusual side effect or adverse response to a mode of treatment; or a new approach to a condition. Maintaining patient anonymity is essential. Case reports should follow a similar format and length to scientific abstracts.
Abstracts That Are Case Study Report Contents
Please include the following information:
- Presenting author’s contact details
- Full first and last name(s).
- Authors’ names must be in a title case (e.g., Kwamena E.A. Mensah)
- Email address for the presenting author
- Phone number
- Affiliation details: Department, Institution / Hospital, City, State/Region (as appropriate), Country
- Co-authors’ details
The abstract submission should identify all co-authors who have substantially contributed to the concept, data collection and analysis, or preparation of the abstract and therefore may have intellectual property claims to the content.
- Full first and family name(s).
- Authors’ names must be in a title case (e.g., Kwamena E.A. Mensah).
- Affiliation details: Department, Institution / Hospital, City, State/Region (as appropriate), Country
- The presenting author’s name should be underlined.
- Case Study Report Abstract title – Should be concise, accurate, and informative. Not longer than 30 words, and must be in UPPER CASE
- Case Study Report text: Limited to 300 words, excluding keywords.
- Use Arial, font size 12. We recommend using word-processing software for editing your abstract and counting the number of words. Use standard abbreviations for units of measure.
- Other abbreviations should be spelt out in full at first mention, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses.
- Case Study Report Abstract text should clearly state:
- Introduction
- Case Description
- Discussion
- Conclusions (key learning points and implications for clinical practice)
- Keywords (4 –5 maximum)
- Conflict of Interest Disclosure (if any)
- The structured Case Study Report abstract should not include subheadings, other than those indicated above.
- NO references are needed.
- The structured abstract should NOT include tables or figures
After Submitting
- No alteration of the abstract can be made after September 22, 2026, at 11.59 PM GMT.
- All communication about the submitted abstract will be sent via email to the presenting author.
- An email will be sent to
- Confirm receipt of the abstract
- Notify if the abstract is accepted or rejected by September 30, 2026.
- Confirm if the abstract is accepted for oral or poster presentation.
- Give presentation criteria for oral and posters.
- The abstract will be submitted with complete acceptance of all the above criteria. The Scientific Committee reserves the right to reject any abstract if it is not adapted to any of these criteria.
Abstract Review
All abstracts will be peer-reviewed through recommended guidelines for the abstract review process set up by the COND Scientific Committee to ensure quality assurance.
Reviewers will consider strict compliance with the deadlines given. Results should include at least preliminary data. To say, “the results will be discussed at COND 2025,” is insufficient. Abstracts without results will be rejected. Exceptions will only be made for study protocol abstracts, which must be denoted as a study protocol in the abstract title.
Acceptance and Programming Notification: Presenting authors will be notified by email regarding abstract acceptance/rejection on September 30, 2026, and abstract programming details (abstract presentation number, presentation type/date/time/location) on October 15, 2026. Please make sure your email settings will allow emails from anc2026abstracts@ansnet.org to ensure important program information gets through your SPAM filters.
Publication: Accepted abstracts will be published in the African Journal of Nutrition, ANS’s journal. Abstracts will be published verbatim using the text and information provided during abstract submission. Abstract authors will be listed in the same order as they are included in the abstract submission.
Authors are free to develop their work into full article submissions without any permission or approval from the African Journal of Nutrition editors. However, all authors are encouraged to submit their full articles to the African Journal of Nutrition for publication.
Full abstract citation information will be available once the abstracts are published in the Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Abstract Mentorship
Authors can send their abstracts for evaluation before final submission for review via the website. Experienced researchers and professionals (clinicians) will be on standby to assist with their abstracts before final submission. This mentorship initiative is NOT compulsory. Authors can submit their abstracts directly without going through this process if they think their abstract is well written. Kindly send the abstract via this email anc2026abstracts@ansnet.org, indicating that it is for Abstract mentorship assessment.
Please see a sample abstract:
| Drivers of perceptions about turkey berry and palm weevil larvae among Ghanaian women of reproductive age: A mixed methods approach
Isaac Agbemafle1,3, Sarah L. Francis1, Helen H. Jensen2, Manju B. Reddy1 1Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA 2Department of Economics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA 3School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana *Corresponding Author: I. Agbemafle: Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, 2302 Osborn Dr, 220 Mackay, Ames, IA 50011. email address: iagbemafle@iastate.edu Objectives: Availability and access to diversity of foods that are affordable for all individuals is always important for achieving food security status (FSS). Hence, this study examined the influence of FSS on women’s perception on underutilized foods: iron-rich plant, solanum torvum (turkey berry, TUB) and edible insect, Rhynchophorus phoenicis fabricius (palm weevil larvae, PWL). Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 891 women of reproductive age (WRA) from communities in Upper Manya Krobo district, Kumasi Metropolitan, La-Nkwantanang-Madina and Ho municipality in the Eastern, Ashanti, Greater-Accra and Volta regions of Ghana respectively. Data was collected on socio-demographic characteristics, FSS and perceptions about TUB and PWL using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to determine the effect of FSS on perception outcomes. Also, 2 focus group discussions (FGD) of 10 WRA each were conducted in each municipality/district and analyzed for major themes and patterns. Results: Mean age was 33 ± 8 y and 36% were food secure. High favorable perception about TUB was 60.9% compared to 17.4% for PWL. WRA residing in big towns in the Greater-Accra region were 2.5 times more likely to have high favorable perceptions about TUB and 4.8 times more likely to have low favorable perceptions about PWL compared to WRA in small towns in the Volta region (p= 0.03). Compared to food insecure WRA, food secure WRA were 2.9 times more likely to have high favorable perceptions about TUB and 4.5 times more likely to have low favorable perceptions about PWL (p= 0.001). FGD participants identified TUB as “the blood-giving plant” and PWL as “the meat of delight”. Identified barriers to TUB use included its “hard to grind numerous seeds”, “bitter taste” and “funny smell”. PWL use barriers included “it’s like a maggot” and “it’s scarce”. FGD participants requested education on nutritional benefits of TUB and PWL and processing of these foods into products that can be liked by everyone. Conclusion: Drivers of favorable perception about TUB and PWL were region of residence and FSS. Nutrition education and local processing of TUB and PWL into ready-to-use products is recommended as a low-cost sustainable food-based strategy for improving nutrient density of complementary and household foods in communities where these foods are culturally accepted. Funding source: Iowa State University |
How To Submit The Abstract Online – Online Process Using Online Portal
How To Submit Electronically
- All abstracts shall be submitted through the ANC (ANEC X) 2026 Abstract Submission website.
- All abstracts should be submitted on or before the Abstract Submission Deadline: September 22, 2026, 11:59 PM GMT.
- If you encounter any difficulties during the submission process or for further information regarding abstract submission via the website, please contact the Technical Secretariat by e-mail, indicating in the subject line at anc2026@ansnet.org.
Making Changes To Your Draft Abstracts
- The submission form, which is accessible from the link above, allows you to save your abstract as a draft to make changes when necessary.
- IMPORTANT: Once you have submitted your abstract via this website, check that you have received a confirmation e-mail.
- If you do not receive any confirmation within 24 hours of submission, please send an e-mail to anc2026abstracts@ansnet.org.
Caution:
- Do not submit your abstract more than once.
- The abstract submission site does not allow for revision of an abstract after the deadline ONCE submitted.
After Submitting
- You will receive an auto-confirmation message with your abstract number. Use this number as reference for all enquiries.
- Authors should expect to hear of the outcome of their submission by September 30, 2026.
- Please NOTE that Abstracts will only be considered if they have been prepared and submitted as per the instructions above.
- The printed conference programme containing all accepted abstracts will be distributed at the registration desk at the conference.