CASNA embraces three core areas for training, research and program support.

1. Double Burden of Malnutrition emphasizing:
   Alleviation of malnutrition through a life cycle approach
   
   Appraisal of ethnic/traditional foods to achieve optimal nutrition and disease prevention

2. Food Safety emphasizing:
   Epidemiological surveys
   
   Food-borne diseases
   
   Toxicants in food and water
   
   Food contaminants and additives
   
   Harmonization of regulatory aspectsfor traditional/health foods
   
   Regional infrastructure development and training

3. Food and Nutrition Security emphasizing:
   Empowerment of women to attain household food and nutrition security involving food-based approaches
   
   Developing a food and nutrition information system that can serve as an early warning system (e.g., FIVIMS and GIS concepts)

For each of these three core areas, emphasis is placed on training and the translation of research findings into effective policies, programs and community level actions.