Food & Nutrition Research towards 2013 and onwards

T his is my first editorial as the new Editor-in-Chief for Food & Nutrition Research (FNR). This editorial contains both good and sad news (but this is how life is so why would a scientific journal be any different?). To start with the sad news: Professor Nils-Georg Asp, until recently Editor-in-Chief for FNR, passed away in early June this summer, right before the Nordic Nutrition Conference in Iceland. It was four years ago that Nils-Georg learned he had prostate cancer. While working through his illness he never lost his positive outlook or his enthusiasm for the things he cared about. FNR was among these things. Indeed, from the outside, cancer seemed to be only a minor obstacle in his way. Last year he nevertheless chose to step down as Editor-in-Chief, although he insisted on continuing as a section editor. This made my move to the Editor-in-Chief post very smooth and easy. The last time I met Nils-Georg was in January in Lund, Sweden. During a meeting lasting several hours and over a good lunch, we discussed many things, but most of all the future of FNR. Even after that meeting we continued to exchange ideas by email. On June 1 st I had just finished a couple of hours' work with manuscripts submitted to FNR when I received the message that Nils-Georg was no longer with us. Though not unexpected the news left me feeling very sad and at a loss for words for a long while. At the same time I was happy that this piece of information had reached me precisely as I was working with something Nils-Georg cared about so much. With this editorial I would like to honour the memory of Professor Nils-Georg Asp and share with readers my personal commitment to continue to develop FNR in a way that would make Nils-Georg proud. What can readers and authors expect from FNR in 2013 and onwards? The journal has taken many major strides in recent years. We will continue to build on these achievements to create a high-quality open access journal focusing on food and human nutrition. Submissions addressing food and health based on quantitative or qualitative methodologies are welcome. We will be working to improve and speed up the review process. This includes a review of the FNR electronic platform, the roles and division of labour between Editor-in-Chief and Section Editors, and guaranteeing a swift …