National Conference in Delhi Focuses on Food Fortification to Combat Hidden Hunger in India

In a major step towards addressing hidden hunger and micronutrient deficiency in India, TechnoServe-operated Millers for Nutrition, in collaboration with the CII Food and Agriculture Centre of Excellence (CII FACE), organized a National Conference of Staple Food Industry Leaders at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi.

The conference brought together policymakers, food industry leaders, millers, nutrition experts, and development sector stakeholders to develop a roadmap for scaling up fortified staple foods across India. The event focused on strengthening industry-wide collaboration to expand the adoption of fortified edible oil, rice, and wheat flour in order to improve nutritional security and tackle malnutrition.

Focus on Tackling Hidden Hunger in India

The conference emerged as an important national platform for discussing practical and sustainable strategies to increase the availability and acceptance of fortified staple foods. Discussions centered around enhancing industry participation, improving consumer awareness, increasing retail adoption, and developing long-term market-driven solutions for nutrition security.

Experts highlighted that hidden hunger, caused by deficiencies of essential vitamins and minerals, remains a major public health challenge in India. Food fortification is increasingly being viewed as a cost-effective and scalable solution to address this issue.

Industry and Policy Leaders Call for Stronger Collaboration

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Monojit Indra, Senior Practice Leader at TechnoServe and Program Leader for Millers for Nutrition Asia, said India has made significant progress in advancing food fortification, but broader collaboration across the food industry ecosystem is required to achieve large-scale impact.

He stated that the conference helped strengthen coordination among industry leaders, development partners, and policymakers to accelerate the adoption of fortified staple foods and build sustainable pathways for nutritional impact.

Participants collectively agreed that food fortification should evolve beyond a policy-driven intervention and become a mainstream industry movement supported by innovation, consumer engagement, and stronger ecosystem partnerships.

Need for Better Consumer Awareness and Technical Support

The conference also highlighted the need for enhanced technical support for millers and food processors to improve fortification quality and efficiency. Stakeholders emphasized that consumer awareness and trust remain key challenges in increasing the adoption of fortified food products.

Industry experts stressed the importance of making fortified foods more accessible and affordable for consumers across urban and rural markets. Discussions also focused on improving quality standards and strengthening coordination among stakeholders involved in food processing and supply chains.

Participants noted that consumer education campaigns could play a critical role in increasing awareness about the health benefits of fortified staple foods.

Food Fortification Can Strengthen Nutrition Security

Commenting on the importance of the initiative, Mr. Abhishek Shukla, Country Program Manager for Millers for Nutrition India, said the discussions at the conference reaffirmed that food fortification can play a transformative role in strengthening nutrition security in India.

He added that the strong commitment shown by stakeholders reflects growing momentum toward scaling fortified staple foods through market-based approaches, industry partnerships, and increased public awareness.

The conference underscored the role of private sector participation in integrating nutrition into mainstream packaged food products and creating commercially viable fortification solutions capable of delivering long-term public health benefits.

Senior Government and Industry Representatives Participate

The conference witnessed participation from several senior government officials and industry leaders. Key speakers included Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Director (Science and Standards) at the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and Mr. Siraj A. Chaudhry, Former Co-Chair of the CII National Nutrition Committee.

Other prominent participants included Mr. Vidyashankar Satyakumar, Head of Research and Development at AWL Agri Business, Mr. J T Chari, Managing Director of Mother Dairy Fruits and Vegetables, and Mr. Bharatarshabha Prabhu, National President of The Akshaya Patra Foundation.

The discussions reflected growing recognition within the food industry that nutrition-focused food systems are essential for improving long-term health outcomes in India.

Shared Commitment Towards Nutrition and Public Health

The conference concluded with a shared commitment among stakeholders to strengthen cross-sector collaboration, support capacity-building efforts for food processors and millers, and promote excellence in food fortification practices.

Participants also agreed to continue developing actionable strategies to scale fortified staple foods across India and create sustainable nutrition-focused food ecosystems.

Millers for Nutrition is supported by strategic fortification partners including BASF, BioAnalyt, dsm-firmenich, Mühlenchemie, and SternVitamin, along with regional partners such as Hexagon Nutrition, Piramal, and Sanku. The initiative is operated by TechnoServe with financial support from the Gates Foundation.

The conference highlighted the growing importance of food fortification as India continues its efforts to combat hidden hunger, improve public health, and ensure better nutrition for millions across the country.

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