The biennial conference focuses on the impact of micronutrient deficiencies, specifically of vitamin A, iron, folate iodine, and zinc, on public health and development and serves as a platform for collaboration and sharing new research and operational findings for the successful up-scaling of micronutrient interventions. The Forum is a successor to previous international meetings that focused on single micronutrients and the related global problems.

DSM’s humanitarian initiative SIGHT AND LIFE was a key sponsor of the event, which was attended by over 650 delegates from some 90 countries who came from academic and research institutions, international agencies, food and ingredient industries, national ministries, educational institutions, NGOs, and clinical and community nutrition organizations. The SIGHT AND LIFE involvement included a booth that showcased videos and publications, sponsored plenary sessions and satellite meetings. Moreover, a SIGHT AND LIFE Young Investigators Award was inaugurated during the Forum which serves to recognize young researchers for micronutrient research that has scientific, policy and/or programmatic relevance, and which also aims to facilitate interactions between young investigators, leading scientists and researchers. The first recipients of the award were Christine Stuart (US), Hossain Md Iqbal (Bangladesh), and Sebayang Susy Katikana (Australia/Indonesia). In her award winning lecture, Christine Stuart from Johns Hopkins University reported on her work in rural Nepal examining the impact of maternal micronutrient supplementation on risk factors of chronic diseases in the next generation.

One of SIGHT AND LIFE’s key contributions to this year’s Micronutrient Forum was the organization of a panel discussion that brought together high-level representatives from PepsiCo, DSM, Unilever, Interflour Group, and Amway to discuss the role of the private sector in eradicating hidden hunger and the question of how Public Private Partnerships could efficiently deliver micronutrients to those at the bottom of the pyramid. DSM was represented on the panel by its member of the Managing Board, Stephan Tanda.

SIGHT AND LIFE also organized a well attended satellite symposium that highlighted the partnership between DSM, and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), seeking to create innovative solutions through the use of micronutrient powder (MixMe™) and thus improving the nutritional quality of food assistance to refugees and vulnerable populations supported by WFP.

Klaus Kraemer, Head of SIGHT AND LIFE, “This year’s Micronutrient Forum has shown that SIGHT AND LIFE’s leadership role in the micronutrient field goes beyond the creation of awareness and advocacy and successfully facilitates networks between the public and private sector”. This is critical, as the key take out message from the meeting is that success in eradicating hidden hunger will only be achieved through collaboration between cross-cutting groups and Public Private Partnerships that promote and advance the development of accessible, affordable, innovative solutions towards eradicating vitamin and mineral deficiencies around the world, positively impacting on the lives of billions.

 
Adressing the Forgotten Millennium Goal: Strategies for Reducing Micronutrient Malnutrition
Declaration

see also http://www.micronutrientforum.org/