Director
Texas A&M Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Evidence Center
Dr. Amanda MacFarlane is the founding Director of the Texas A&M Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Evidence Center – a source of independent and transparent evidence reviews for policymakers on how the agri-food system effects human health, the environment, and the economy. Dr. MacFarlane is a recognized global leader in nutrition science and policy. Her research examines the impact of B vitamin nutrition on health spanning from the molecular mechanisms underpinning genome stability to the identification of socioeconomic, dietary, and genetic determinants of nutritional status among populations. She is a core member of the NUQUEST Working Group that developed critical appraisal tools for nutrition studies. While a Research Scientist at Health Canada (2008-2022), she chaired the Canada-US Joint Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) Working Group (2013-2022). During that time, chronic disease endpoints were formally incorporated into the DRIs framework, a review of the sodium and potassium DRIs including the first application of the Chronic Disease Risk Reduction values was completed, and a review of macronutrient requirements was initiated. She is actively involved in policy and regulatory work related to food fortification, food labelling and vitamin supplement content and use. Dr. MacFarlane is an Associate Editor of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Member-at-large for Food and Nutrition Policy of the Board of Directors of the American Society for Nutrition. She received the 2022 Assistant Deputy Minister’s Award for Excellence in Science, the 2017 Deputy Minister’s Award for Excellence in Science, and the 2015 Assistant Deputy Minister’s Award for Transparency and Openness.