Tackling global malnutrition: DSM and WFP extend partnership

10 Oct 2018 --- DSM has extended its long-standing partnership with the World Food Program (WFP) for a further three years until 2021. The partnership between the world’s largest humanitarian organization fighting hunger and the world’s largest producer of vitamins and micronutrients is set to continue.

Since 2007, the DSM-WFP “Improving nutrition, improving lives” partnership has helped fight hidden hunger – a form of malnutrition that afflicts some two billion people around the world.

DSM combines technical and scientific expertise in high-nutrient products and financial assistance to help improve the nutritional value of the food WFP distributes to those in need. DSM and WFP are also working together to raise awareness for improved nutrition and the benefits of nutritious food, encouraging people to make nutritious choices.

In 2017 alone, WFP supported 39.4 million people with food that was nutritionally improved by this partnership, meaning essential vitamins and minerals were added to diets, which help address a broad range of physical and mental health needs.

Now the two organizations are stepping up their efforts to enable better nutrition and brighter lives for all. For example, the groups note that well-nourished children are 33 percent more likely to escape the vicious cycle of poverty when they grow up.

The next phase of the DSM-WFP partnership will put an even greater emphasis on raising awareness for improved nutrition while continuing to develop new scientific and technical solutions – one of which is a major project to develop fortified rice, a crucial staple food in the developing world.

DSM has now aligned its core strategy with five of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that emerged from the 2016 Paris Agreement.

“The extension of the DSM-WFP partnership will help address two of these most important SDGs: ‘Zero Hunger’ and ‘Good Health & Wellbeing’,” says Feike Sijbesma, CEO and Chairman of the DSM Managing Board: “DSM is very proud of this long-term partnership with the World Food Program. We work towards the same goal of ending malnutrition and share the vision of a world beyond hunger, where every child, every human being can reach their full potential.”

These sentiments were echoed by David Beasley, the Executive Director of the WFP, who stated that he was, “thrilled to continue partnering with DSM. One of our oldest partners, DSM has worked with us from the beginning to fight hunger through sustainable food solutions.”

A recent NutritionInsight special report looks at the role of fortification in tackling malnutrition globally.