Empowering Millers: The Millers for Nutrition Coalition

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Empowering Millers: The Millers for Nutrition Coalition

Millers for Nutrition is an industry-led coalition that’s revolutionizing the approach to global nutrition. This coalition brings together industry partners, strategic stakeholders, and millers to tackle micronutrient deficiencies through the fortification of staple foods.

The coalition focuses on the millers who are the main stakeholders in producing staple foods such as rice, edible oil, and flour (both wheat and maize) and seeks to make food fortification easier and more rewarding for millers. The goal is to provide fortified foods to one billion people in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Tanzania by 2026.

Strategic Fortification Partnerships in Millers for Nutrition

This coalition is a cross-sector partnership, with millers at the center and industry partners from across the food fortification value chain, including founding partners BioAnalyt, BASF, DAM-Firmenich, Mühlenchemie/ SternVitamin, Piramal, and Sanku; along with regional partner Hexagon Nutrition. These partners offer essential technical expertise and support to help millers achieve fortification success. In addition, the Gates Foundation provides strategic input and investment, while TechnoServe coordinates program activities. For more information, subscribe to the newsletter or visit millersfornutrition.com

How does this coalition help the millers? 

The Millers for Nutrition empowers millers by:

  • Building Technical Capacity: Empowering millers to deliver nutritious diets to millions affected by micronutrient malnutrition.
  • Advancing Public Health: Aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UN-SDG) 2: Zero Hunger.

Role of BioAnalyt

BioAnalyt, as an SFP, plays a vital role in providing innovative analytical solutions for effective food fortification control practices. Our expertise helps millers monitor micronutrient levels, identify potential issues, and maintain consistent fortification standards. BioAnalyt has been actively involved in M4N activities across several countries.

Tanzania:  The Tanzania government has mandated fortification of flour and oil since 2011, this law focused on increasing the capability of oil millers and thereby boosting fortified staple food. BioAnalyt as an SFP, developed training materials to address the knowledge gaps for a 2-day training to 30 oil millers. The millers were trained about the qualitative and quantitative testing of micronutrients and introduced to the iCheck Chroma3, a device that facilitates the rapid testing of vitamin A in oil.

Ethiopia: The Ethiopian government mandated the fortification of edible oil and wheat flour in 2022. This one-day training was arranged for 32 edible oil millers, which intended to provide training and impart knowledge on oil fortification, qualitative, and quantitative analysis, sampling techniques, and more. The iCheck Chroma 3 was presented to millers, demonstrating its use in quantifying vitamin A in edible oil.

Kenya: The kenyan government laid down mandatory legislation from 2012, that required the fortification of oils, wheat, and maize flour. A total of 32 participants were invited from large, small, and medium scale millers. African Milling School (AMS) facilitated the practical sessions at their laboratory where they also covered the analysis of vitamin A using the iCheck device. In addition, the participants were also trained on the qualitative analysis of vitamin A in oil and iron in flour.

To discover how our innovative devices can enhance your data-driven decision-making and benefit local communities, we invite you to connect with BioAnalyt. Reach out to us at [email protected] for more information.

Millers for Nutrition Initiative Launched to Accelerate Large-scale Food Fortification in Staples

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https://agronigeria.ng/millers-for-nutrition-initiative-launched-to-accelerate-large-scale-food-fortification-in-staples

To accelerate large-scale food fortification in staples like rice, edible oil, flour, and sugar, the Millers for Nutrition initiative has been unveiled in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy. 

However, this cross-sector partnership, spearheaded by millers and supported by industry experts, aims to enhance access to nutritious foods for Nigerians, promoting healthier and more productive lives.

Launched during the 9th Agrofood Nigeria Exhibition and Summit in Lagos, the initiative pledges to fortify staple foods to reach a billion people by 2026. 

Speaking during the launch, Rizwan Yusufali, Program Director, Millers for Nutrition at TechnoServe, emphasized the commitment of Nigerian millers to fortification excellence, highlighting the initiative’s goal to turn good fortification practices into a business advantage.

The initiative, spanning eight countries in Africa and Asia, focuses on staples such as rice, edible oil, and flour, aiming to combat malnutrition and improve public health by incorporating essential vitamins and minerals into widely consumed products. 

However, participating millers will receive recognition and support through platforms like the MFI Awards, tailored training, and technical assistance to facilitate fortification.

Boye Olusanya, Group Managing Director of Flour Mills of Nigeria, expressed the commitment of millers to enrich their brands with necessary nutrients, encouraging others to join the Millers for Nutrition initiative. 

Founding partners and technical supporters are collaborating to provide expertise and resources to support millers in specific regions or staple foods.

At the launch event, the winners of the 2024 MFI Awards were celebrated for their exemplary efforts in fortifying their products. Key figures from the nutrition sector, including representatives from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and NAFDAC, expressed support for the initiative’s goal of positively impacting the nutrition of one billion people by 2026.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is providing strategic input and investment, while TechnoServe oversees program activities, ensuring the success and sustainability of the Millers for Nutrition initiative in Nigeria and beyond.

Millers for Nutrition launches in Nigeria and recognises leading brands for delivering high-quality fortified foods

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Millers for Nutrition launches in Nigeria and recognises leading brands for delivering high-quality fortified foods

April 2, 2024 – The Director of Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Sugra Mahmood, Dr Faniran Sanjo, Food System National Conveyor/Director Social Development of the Ministry of Budget & Economic Planning and NAFDAC’s Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN) Director, Eva Edwards joined milling industry leaders, and other stakeholders at the 9th Agrofood Nigeria Exhibition and Summit to launch Millers for Nutrition, which aims to ensure that more Nigerians can access the nutritious food they need to live healthier and more productive lives.

Millers for Nutrition, a new industry-led coalition, has been established to make adequate fortification of staple foods easier and more rewarding for millers, the businesses responsible for processing dietary staples like flour, cooking oil and rice. By adding essential vitamins and minerals to the widely consumed foods they produce, millers can play an important role in reducing malnutrition and improving public health. Millers for Nutrition will encourage, enable and celebrate this vital work.

Millers who join Millers for Nutrition and commit to improving the nutritional quality of their food will receive free technical support to make it easier to fortify their products. This includes access to tailored technical training and business advice, product testing support and online tools and resources, which will also help millers to reduce their compliance risk and enhance production efficiency.

At the launch, Millers for Nutrition and participants also celebrated the winners of the 2024 MFI Awards, which recognise the miller and brands that are leading the way to fortifying their products with essential vitamins and minerals.

This year’s MFI award winners include Crown Flour Mills Ltd (OLAM), Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC, Raffles Oil LFTZ Enterprises, and Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc. Other companies recognised at the awards ceremony include DUFIL Prima Foods and WACOT-Big Bull, recognised as the Rice Fortification pioneer brand.

Members of Millers for Nutrition will gain recognition for their efforts through platforms like the MFI Awards and other promotional activities including events and media. As fortification quality improves, members will benefit as they gain greater recognition for product quality and industry leadership.

Millers for Nutrition is being implemented in eight countries across Africa and Asia: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tanzania, and across three staple food vehicles: rice, edible oil and flour (wheat and maize).Partners of the coalition have committed to reach one billion people with adequately fortified rice, edible oil and flour by 2026.

“NAFDAC welcomes the launch of the Millers of Nutrition in Nigeria and thanks TechnoServe, their technical partners and the Gates foundation for this laudable initiative which aims to enhance the capacity of millers, promote sustained behavioural change among food processors and distinguished proven leaders in the food fortification space who display resilience in fortifying staple foods. We key into the Miller for Nutrition target of positively impacting the nutrition of one billion people by 2026 across the eight countries they operate including Nigeria” said Eva Edwards, Director of food safety and applied nutrition on behalf of professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General of NAFDAC.

“Millers for Nutrition members in Nigeria will stand apart because they represent a commitment to fortification excellence and product quality that improves the lives of the people they serve. By sharing practical tools and best in class expertise and training from industry leaders, Millers for Nutrition will enable millers to step up and adopt food fortification into a business advantage,” said Rizwan Yusufali, Program Director for Millers for Nutrition at TechnoServe.

“On behalf of millers, we assure consumers that we will continue to enrich all our brands with the necessary vitamins and minerals. Consumers will not only see fortified products, they will see detailed information on fortification that is in the product as they continue to buy and consume these products” commented Boye Olusanya, group managing director of Flour Mills of Nigeria. “I would like to encourage millers across the country who are not part of the Millers for Nutrition to join the coalition, so that together we can make a huge difference in the lives of consumers and populace in Nigeria.”

Millers for Nutrition launches in Nigeria

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https://www.world-grain.com/articles/19805-millers-for-nutrition-launches-in-nigeria

LAGOS, NIGERIA — Food industry-led group Millers for Nutrition launched its efforts in Nigeria, aiming to improve access to nutritious food in the country.

Millers for Nutrition seeks to make fortification of staple foods easier and more rewarding for millers, who are responsible for processing flour, cooking oil and rice. With implementation in eight countries, the group hopes to reach 1 billion people by 2026 with fortified flour, rice and edible oil.

“Millers for Nutrition members in Nigeria will stand apart because they represent a commitment to fortification excellence and product quality that improves the lives of the people they serve,” said Rizwan Yusufali, program director for Millers for Nutrition at TechnoServe, an international nonprofit that is coordinating program activities. “By sharing practical tools and best-in-class expertise and training from industry leaders, Millers for Nutrition will enable millers to step up and adopt food fortification best practices. And, by building brand awareness for our members, we will turn good fortification into a business advantage.”

Millers who join the group will receive free technical support to make it easier to fortify their products. This includes access to tailored technical training and business advice, product testing support and online tools and resources, which also will help reduce compliance risk and enhance production efficiency.

The group was launched in Nigeria during the 9th Agrofood Nigeria Exhibition and Summit, which was March 25-27 in Lagos.

Winners of the 2024 MFI Awards were also celebrated during the meeting, recognizing millers and brands that are leading the way in fortifying their products with essential vitamins and minerals.

Award winners included Crown Flour Mills Ltd., Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC, Raffles Oil LFTZ Enterprises and Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC. Other companies recognized at the awards ceremony include DUFIL Prima Foods and WACOT-Big Bull, recognized as the rice fortification pioneer brand.

Millers for Nutrition includes partners from across the food fortification value chain, including founding partners BASF, DSM-firmenich, Mühlenchemie/SternVitamin, Piramal, BioAnalyt and Sanku.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is providing strategic input and investment to support the creation of the coalition.

Millers for Nutrition launches in Nigeria, honors top fortified brands

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https://millermagazine.com/blog/millers-for-nutrition-launches-in-nigeria-honors-top-fortified-brands-5625

Millers for Nutrition, a new industry-led coalition, launched in Nigeria during the 9th Agrofood Nigeria Exhibition and Summit. At the launch, the coalition celebrated the winners of the 2024 Micronutrient Fortification Index (MFI) Awards, recognizing brands such as Crown Flour Mills LTD (OLAM) and Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC for their exemplary fortification efforts.

The Director of Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Sugra Mahmood, Dr. Faniran Sanjo, Food System National Conveyor/Director Social Development of the Ministry of Budget & Economic Planning and NAFDAC’s Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN) Director, Eva Edwards joined milling industry leaders, and other stakeholders at the 9th Agrofood Nigeria Exhibition and Summit to launch Millers for Nutrition, which aims to ensure that more Nigerians can access the nutritious food they need to live healthier and more productive lives.

Millers for Nutrition, a new industry-led coalition, has been established to make adequate fortification of staple foods easier and more rewarding for millers, the businesses responsible for processing dietary staples like flour, cooking oil, and rice. By adding essential vitamins and minerals to the widely consumed foods they produce, millers can play an important role in reducing malnutrition and improving public health. Millers for Nutrition will encourage, enable and celebrate this vital work.

Millers who join Millers for Nutrition and commit to improving the nutritional quality of their food will receive free technical support to make it easier to fortify their products. This includes access to tailored technical training and business advice, product testing support and online tools and resources, which will also help millers to reduce their compliance risk and enhance production efficiency.

2024 MFI AWARDS RECOGNIZE LEADERS IN FORTIFICATION

At the launch, Millers for Nutrition and participants also celebrated the winners of the 2024 Micronutrient Fortification Index (MFI) Awards, which recognize the millers and brands that are leading the way in fortifying their products with essential vitamins and minerals. This year’s MFI award winners include Crown Flour Mills LTD (OLAM), Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC, Raffles Oil LFTZ Enterprises, and Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc. Other companies recognized at the awards ceremony include DUFIL Prima Foods and WACOT-Big Bull, recognized as the Rice Fortification pioneer brand.

Members of Millers for Nutrition will gain recognition for their efforts through platforms like the MFI Awards and other promotional activities including events and media. As fortification quality improves, members will benefit as they gain greater recognition for product quality and industry leadership.

Millers for Nutrition is being implemented in eight countries across Africa and Asia: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tanzania, and across three staple food vehicles: rice, edible oil, and flour (wheat and maize). Partners of the coalition have committed to to reach one billion people1 with adequately fortified rice, edible oil and flour by 2026.

EMPOWERING NIGERIAN MILLERS

“NAFDAC welcomes the launch of the Millers of Nutrition in Nigeria and thanks TechnoServe, their technical partners and the Gates foundation for this laudable initiative which aims to enhance the capacity of millers, promote sustained behavioral change among food processors and distinguished proven leaders in the food fortification space who display resilience in fortifying staple foods. We key into the Millers for Nutrition target of positively impacting the nutrition of one billion people by 2026 across the eight countries they operate including Nigeria” said Eva Edwards, Director of food safety and applied nutrition on behalf of Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General of NAFDAC.

“Millers for Nutrition members in Nigeria will stand apart because they represent a commitment to fortification excellence and product quality that improves the lives of the people they serve. By sharing practical tools and best in class expertise and training from industry leaders, Millers for Nutrition will enable millers to step up and adopt food fortification best practices. And, by building brand awareness for our members, we will turn good fortification into a business advantage,” said Rizwan Yusufali, Program Director for Millers for Nutrition at TechnoServe.

“On behalf of millers, we assure consumers that we will continue to enrich all our brands with the necessary vitamins and minerals. Consumers will not only see fortified products, they will see detailed information on fortification that is in the product as they continue to buy and consume these products” commented Boye Olusanya, group managing director of Flour Mills of Nigeria. “I would like to encourage millers across the country who are not part of the Millers for Nutrition to join the coalition, so that together we can make a huge difference in the lives of consumers and the populace in Nigeria.” 

Millers for Nutrition launches in Nigeria

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https://www.millingmea.com/millers-for-nutrition-launches-in-nigeria/

NIGERIA – Millers for Nutrition, a coalition aimed at enhancing access to nutritious foods nationwide, made its grand entrance onto the national stage at the 9th Agrofood Nigeria Exhibition and Summit.

With support from founding partners like BASF, DSM-Firmenich, Mühlenchemie, Piramal, BioAnalyt, and Sanku, as well as strategic input and investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the coalition aims to revolutionize access to nutritious foods globally.

The launch was graced by esteemed figures including Sugra Mahmood, Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Faniran Sanjo of the Ministry of Budget & Economic Planning, and Eva Edwards, Director of NAFDAC’s Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN).

The primary objective of Millers for Nutrition is to facilitate the widespread fortification of staple foods, such as flour, cooking oil, and rice, ensuring they are enriched with essential vitamins and minerals. 

By engaging millers, the backbone of food processing in Nigeria, the coalition aims to combat malnutrition and uplift public health standards. 

Through free technical support and access to resources, Millers for Nutrition empowers its members to fortify their products effectively, reducing compliance risks while enhancing production efficiency.

Celebrating industry leaders

The launch event also served as a platform to celebrate the 2024 MFI Awards winners, recognizing exemplary efforts in fortifying food products. Among the esteemed awardees were Crown Flour Mills LTD (OLAM), Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC, Raffles Oil LFTZ Enterprises, and Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc. 

Additionally, DUFIL Prima Foods and WACOT-Big Bull were acknowledged as pioneers in rice fortification.

Millers for Nutrition transcends national borders, with operations spanning eight countries across Africa and Asia. 

Partners of the coalition have pledged to reach one billion people with adequately fortified rice, edible oil, and flour by 2026, marking a significant milestone in the global fight against malnutrition.

NAFDAC expressed gratitude for the launch of Millers for Nutrition, acknowledging its potential to enhance the capacity of millers and promote sustained behavioral change among food processors.

“We key into the Millers for Nutrition target of positively impacting the nutrition of one billion people by 2026 across the eight countries they operate including Nigeria,” said Eva Edwards, speaking on behalf of Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General of NAFDAC.

Other industry leaders reaffirmed their commitment to fortification excellence and product quality. Boye Olusanya, Group Managing Director of Flour Mills of Nigeria, assured consumers of their dedication to enriching all brands with necessary vitamins and minerals, inviting other millers to join the coalition.

Millers for Nutrition Launches Across Africa

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We are proud to announce the successful launches of Millers for Nutrition in Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania. These launches mark significant milestones in our mission to improve nutrition for one billion people by 2026. The events build on the momentum from our global launch in the Netherlands last October. The events boasted a wide range of participation from different stakeholder groups including leaders from the food processing ecosystem, government ministries and agencies, as well as donor agencies and development partners. Notable guests included the Prime Minister of Tanzania, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Trade Investments and Industry, Kenya as well as the Director of Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Nigeria.

In these countries, members  receive free technical support to improve the nutritional quality of their products, including access to tailored technical training, product testing support and online tools and business advice, which will also help millers  reduce their compliance risk and enhance production efficiency.

The Millers for Nutrition Launch in Nigeria and Kenya coincided with the 2024 Micronutrient Fortification Index (MFI) and Kenya MIllers Fortification Index (KMFI) awards. These annual awards recognize millers who excel at fortifying their products. In Nigeria, taking the top spot this year was Crown Flour Mills’ mama gold wheat flour. Other brands that joined Mama Gold in the top five categories included Golden Penny Confectionary & Eagle Flour of Flour Mills of Nig Plc; Power Oil & Emperor Raffles Oil LFTZ Enterprises, a subsidiary of Dufil Foods, Dangote Sugar, Mix & Bake Flour of Crown Flour Mills. Award for Biggest Improvers went to DUFIL Prima Food’s Diamond D’Lite as the most improved brand and Dangote Sugar as a Top vitamin A brand. Additionally, a recognition award was presented to WACOT-Big Bull Rice as the first to pioneer rice fortification in Nigeria.

Similarly, the 2024 Kenya Millers Fortification Initiative (KMFI) recognized and awarded all 20 participating companies for their commitment to food fortification. Self-assessment (4PG) Performance Awards went to Isinya Investments Ltd, Buffalo Millers, Pembe Flour Mills Ltd, Mombasa Maize Millers, United Miller, Unga Ltd, and Capwell Industries.

In the Evidence Parity Award category, Ustawi Grain Millers Ltd and Winnie’s Pure Health Products Ltd shared the third place, Eastern Flour Mills Ltd secured second place, and Kitale claimed the top spot. The KMFI Top-Three Performance Awards recognized outstanding achievements by food vehicle and company size. For wheat flour, Spice World Ltd’s Kamal Atta Mark 1 Flour and Butterfly Atta Mark Premium won in the small company category, while United Millers Ltd’s U Mix Mandazi and Unga Ltd’s Exe Whole Meal and EXE Atta Mark 1 won in the medium and large company categories, respectively.In the maize flour category, United Millers Ltd’s Jambo Sifted Maize Meal Flour won for medium companies, while Unga Ltd’s Jogoo took the prize for large companies.

The final awards recognized the top three overall performers. Unga Ltd’s EXE Chapati, Exe Self-Rising, and EXE All Purpose secured third place, U Mix Mandazi from United Millers Ltd came in second, and Unga Ltd’s Jogoo, Exe Whole Meal, and EXE Atta Mark 1 shared the first place. 

The Millers for Nutrition Launch in Tanzania also saw the opening of Sanku’s nutrient premix blending factory. Sanku is a Strategic Fortification Partner helping Tanzanian millers improve the lives of Tanzanian citizens and its factory delivers several benefits for millers, the government, and the community. The new nutrient premix blending factory will provide more millers easy access to high-quality premix at a reduced cost. 

Sector Wide Training in Bangladesh (Edible Oil)

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First Sector Wide Training in Bangladesh

Millers For Nutrition recently hosted a Sector Wide Training on Advancing Edible Oil Fortification and Packaging Innovation in collaboration with Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh. This event which recently concluded in Dhaka, Bangladesh, analyzed the current landscape, addressed challenges, and charted the path forward for edible oil fortification and packaging innovation. Specifically, the event focused on affordable packaging options for upgrading loose oil to hygienic, fortified  oil. Fortification Partners BASF, DSM- Firmenich, Muhlenchemie, Piramal and Hexagon were also in attendance offering valuable insight into global trends and best practices in Edible Oil Fortification.  

Millers For Nutrition steps in as Nutrition Partner at the Global CEO Conclave 2024

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Millers For Nutrition recently participated as the Nutrition Partner at the

GlobalCEOConclave powered by the Wheat Products Promotion Society (WPPS) in

Delhi, India. This gathering provided a valuable platform for industry leaders and experts to explore innovative trends and cutting-edge technologies shaping the future of wheat and wheat products.

Rizwan Yusufali, Global Program Director, TechnoServe, joined the event virtually, sharing insights on global initiatives in food fortification and the efforts of the Millers For Nutrition coalition to improve health and nutrition through large-scale food fortification.

Dr. (Col) Rajan Sankar, Senior Advisor at TechnoServe, was honored with the WPPS Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to food fortification and nutrition.

Deepti Gulati, Nutrition and Public Health Specialist and Senior Advisor at TechnoServe, received the WPPS Excellence in Wheat and Wheat Products Award for her l contributions to the developmental sector, food fortification, and food security.

Wheat Flour Sector Wide Training in India

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Millers for Nutrition recently hosted a technical workshop on Wheat Flour Fortification in collaboration with our Industry Association Partners: Gujarat Roller Flour Millers Association and Wheat Products Promotion Society (WPPS) in Ahmedabad.

The primary focus of the workshop was wheat flour fortification, pivotal in improving public health and combating malnutrition. It aimed to reignite the Flour Fortification drive in Gujarat through in-depth discussions on challenges and viable solutions.

The event included over 30 flour millers. Mr. K R Patel, State Designated Officer from Food & Drug Control Administration shared insights into regulatory frameworks. Our Ecosystem Partner,  The Akshaya Patra Foundation, and Strategic Fortification Partners, Hexagon Nutrition Limited, BASF, and Piramal Nutrition Solutions, along with developmental sector partners and academia like Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Fortify Health and Innovation Hub for Rice Fortification (IHRF)- Fostering Innovation. Enhancing Nutrition also contributed to the event.

A panel discussion  on wheat flour fortification featured industry experts  Ramesh Saraf, President, GRFMA; Neel Patel, Secretary, GRFMA; Trilokchandra Agarwal, Sr. Advisor, GRFMA; Raj Kapoor, Convener, WPPS; Priya Bhattacharya, Senior Program Associate, GAIN; Chirag Bhalodiya, MD, Tulsi Agro Group; Manish Jha, Program Specialist, Fortification, IIT Delhi (IHRF); Bhavin Raval, Regional Manager Quality; and Akshaya Patra.