ISLAMABAD: In a significant step toward improving public health, Pakistan officially launched the global initiative “Millers for Nutrition”, aimed at empowering food millers to produce more nutritious, fortified foods to combat micronutrient deficiencies.
The initiative was launched in Islamabad with support from Nutrition International and a coalition of strategic fortification partners, including BASF Human Nutrition, BioAnalyt, Bühler Group, dsm-firmenich, Mühlenchemie, SternVitamin, along with regional partners such as Hexagon Nutrition Limited, Piramal Nutrition Solutions, and Sanku. The program is powered by TechnoServe with generous support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Under the slogan “Better support. Better tools. Better business. Better nutrition.”, the initiative aims to recognize and reward millers who actively fortify food staples like wheat flour, edible oils, and rice with essential micronutrients such as iron, zinc, folic acid, and vitamins A and D.
“Millers are at the front lines of the fight against malnutrition,” said a representative of Nutrition International. “This initiative brings better tools, technical support, and incentives to help them fortify foods effectively, consistently, and at scale.”
Fortification is recognized globally as a cost-effective strategy to improve population health. According to experts, over 2 billion people worldwide suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, often called “hidden hunger,” which can lead to poor growth, cognitive impairment, and weakened immunity.
The Millers for Nutrition platform will provide capacity-building, quality assurance, data tools, and peer networks to strengthen food fortification efforts across Pakistan and beyond.
Health and nutrition advocates have praised the initiative as a timely intervention, especially in a country where malnutrition and stunting remain serious public health concerns.
