Healthy diets for all

Within planetary boundaries

Helping vulnerable people

Getting better food to undernourished children makes them 33% more likely to escape the vicious cycle of poverty (according to our long-term partner the World Food Programme). There are many statistics on the challenge we face in feeding the world, but this one summarizes the life-changing role that better nutrition can play in giving vulnerable people everywhere a brighter future (especially in the first 1,000 days of life). It’s why we’re focused on using all the great nutritional science at our disposal to end ‘hidden hunger’, a condition of deficiencies in vitamins and minerals that afflicts two billion people worldwide.

When it comes to tackling malnutrition, we take our lead from the SDGs - particularly SDG 2, which advocates ‘zero hunger’ and aims to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030.

Our Nutrition Improvement Solutions

Affordable nutrition for micronutrient-deficient populations

As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of vitamins, nutritional ingredients and food fortification technologies we’re well placed to develop and deliver better nutrition for people deficient in these ingredients. It’s why at DSM our team working on nutrition improvement provides a range of nutrient-rich foods ranging from micronutrient powders to fortified rice while working with humanitarian organizations, food companies and social enterprises to reach broad populations at scale.

We’re putting all our nutritional science expertise to good use by helping people who are malnourished lead fuller lives. It’s a big job: worldwide, more than 800 million people are still chronically undernourished, while around two billion suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. However, our essential micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are now fortifying the diets of approximately 100 million people every year..

Working in partnership

One great way to improve food for people in Africa is to work with Africa Improved Foods (AIF). So, we invested in a factory in Kigali, Rwanda, that produces fortified foods for 1.5 million malnourished children and young women… every day. Soon we expect that number to hit two million people – which will reduce growth stunting in Rwandan children by 6% (from 38% to 32% by 2020) – giving tens of thousands of youngsters increased hope of fulfilling their potential in life.

But that’s only part of the story. Around 300 staff members work at the factory, producing porridge flours with added milk powder, vitamins, and minerals. And all this is based on the produce of around 9,000 local farmers, working towards healthier and brighter lives for all.

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