IFC, GAIN host 2nd Int Food Fortification Forum in Dhaka

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), with support from the Government of Japan and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, hosted its 2nd International Food Fortification Forum on Tuesday in Bangladesh.

The event brought together private and public sector leaders to address micronutrient deficiencies, promote best practices and explore opportunities to scale up initiatives in food fortification.

Bangladesh, recognized as a priority country for IFC's nutrition initiatives, has a significant opportunity to further enhance its progress in improving public health through targeted nutrition strategies, according to a press release.

The 2022 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey underscored the potential impact of addressing micronutrient deficiencies in children under five and women of reproductive age, highlighting food fortification as a powerful tool to advance nutrition security and foster long-term well-being.

The forum featured discussions on scaling up food fortification, agribusiness innovations, and the role of the private sector in integrating vitamins and minerals into staple foods.

Stakeholders included IFC clients, policymakers, development partners, and key decision-makers from the food production industry.

Food fortification is a proven strategy to combat micronutrient deficiencies globally. IFC's decade-long efforts in supporting food companies and governments aim to make fortified, nutritious foods more accessible and affordable.

Through partnerships and advisory programs, including support from the Gates Foundation, IFC is committed to enhancing food and nutrition security in Bangladesh while fostering sustainable development and public health improvements.

"At IFC, we recognize the critical role that food fortification plays in addressing micronutrient deficiencies and improving public health outcomes.

By leveraging our expertise and fostering public-private partnerships, we aim to drive private sector participation to bridge the nutrition gap in Bangladesh and beyond." Said Anup Jagwani, IFC Global Head of Agribusiness.

"IFC's 2nd International Food Fortification Forum served as a platform to bring key stakeholders together, including the private sector to discuss how to bridge the nutrition gap in Bangladesh through innovative incentives like food fortification. Bangladesh has made significant strides in achieving food security over the past decade, it's time to raise the bar and talk about nutrition security," said Martin Holtmann, IFC Country Manager in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.

"The mission of GAIN is to improve the consumption of healthier diets for all, especially the most vulnerable, by improving the availability, affordability, desirability, and sustainability of nutritious and safe foods, and reducing the consumption of unhealthy and unsafe foods. Experience and evidence demonstrate that well-designed consumer and compliance-driven food fortification interventions working with public, private, and relevant sectors improve health, support human development, and boost productivity," Said Dr Rudaba Khondker, GAIN Country Director, Bangladesh."