Projects

Initiative to Eliminate Micronutrient Malnutrition in Asia through Public-Private Partnership: Food Fortification in Asia

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Background Food Fortification in Asia Improving Health & Building Economies: An Investor’s Primer Capacity Building Workshops Country Investment Plans Partners & Participants

In 2001-2002 the Asian Development Bank and The Keystone Center worked with multisectoral Country Teams from five countries to develop Country Investment Plans (CIPs) that address the enormous burden of vitamin and mineral deficiencies and to capitalize on the potential of food fortification.

Multisectoral teams from Indonesia, Pakistan, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Thailand, and Vietnam undertook a collaborative process of information sharing, capacity building, advocacy, and financial and public health analysis. Their analysis indicated that over the next 10 years these countries will suffer more than 1 million deaths and national productivity losses estimated more than $25 billion as a consequence of dietary deficits of iron, folic acid and vitamin A.

The 10-year CIPs recommend investments in fortification of wheat flour, cooking oil and condiments that could protect more than one billion people annually at a cost of about eight U.S. cents.

The CIPs are based on a regional understanding regarding the need for common strategies and institutions to support investment in fortification.