Juliana Jacob
Communications Specialist

In response to the global malnutrition challenge, fortified wheat and maize flours are emerging as a vital solution. With over two billion people suffering from micronutrient deficiencies, fortification of staple foods is proving to be a cost-effective method to enhance public health. The Millers for Nutrition coalition aims to improve the nutritional quality of food in several countries, benefiting over one billion people by 2026. This initiative not only boosts individual health but also enhances the operational efficiency of participating millers.

Wheat- and maize-flour millers not only supply dietary staples, they are critical to combatting one of the world’s most important public health challenges. According to the World Health Organization, over two billion people today suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. Furthermore, nearly half of deaths among children under five years of age are linked to undernutrition, a form of malnutrition. In May 2023, The World Health Organization reported that 40% of children between six and 59 months of age, 37% of pregnant women and 30% of women aged 15 to 49 years suffer from anaemia, partly caused by iron deficiency. 

The effects of malnutrition casts economic, social and developmental burdens on individuals, communities and countries: the impact stunts economic growth, strains healthcare systems, and results in significant productivity losses due to workers’ illness. 

One of the most impactful solutions is the fortification of staple foods, including maize and wheat flours. Large-scale food fortification is the practice of deliberately adding micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) to commonly consumed food to improve its nutritional quality, thereby improving the health status of national populations. Although not a new concept, food fortification is attracting increased attention from a broad range of expert stakeholders as an efficient, cost-effective solution to improve nutrition on a large scale. And millers are at the center of the initiative.

AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO SOLVING MALNUTRITION

Millers for Nutrition is a coalition of key food fortification stakeholders united to support millers in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tanzania. Its goal is to help these businesses adequately fortify wheat and maize flours, edible oil and rice and boost the nutrition of 1 billion people globally by 2026. 

This innovative approach connects millers to world class fortification experts including premix suppliers, social enterprises, and other solution providers to gain free technical assistance and specialized training on industry best practices. The support from coalition partners not only improves the nutritional quality of food products but also increases operational efficiencies and competitiveness of the businesses.

The coalition includes Strategic Fortification Partners BASF, dsm-firmenich, Mühlenchemie, SternVitamin, Piramal, Hexagon, BioAnalyt and Sanku who provide millers with technical support to improve fortification practices. Additionally, the Gates Foundation is supporting the creation of Millers for Nutrition with strategic input and investment. International nonprofit TechnoServe, which has significant experience supporting industry-led fortification capacity building efforts, is coordinating program activities. 

CELEBRATING MILLERS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT AND CONTRIBUTION

In addition to support, participating millers have opportunities to be recognized in national and international forums, and can also play a prominent role in the coalition through a variety of leadership roles including advancing advocacy and policy initiatives, connecting with local and national media to speak on behalf of the industry, working with senior partners across the value chain, and more.

“Being a member of Millers for Nutrition demonstrates our commitment as a company to delivering high quality and nutritious food products to our customers,” said Gaddafi Muhammad of Mombasa Maize Millers in Kenya. “Secondly, Millers for Nutrition provides positive visibility and the promotion of our brand as a champion of food fortification at both the national and international levels.” 

Since its global launch in October 2023, the Millers for Nutrition initiative has gained significant traction, with more than 300 millers joining and pledging to enhance their products with essential vitamins and minerals. 

Millers, food fortification stakeholders, and others interested in joining this initiative can learn more at millersfornutrition.com.