About us

Vision

Sight and Life (SAL) is a pioneer of nutrition innovations based on science and working towards eradicating malnutrition in women of childbearing age and their children. To catalyze science-based solutions, we work with a distinguished alliance of academia, partners, and funders to advance research to inform, support, design, and incubate evidence-based malnutrition solutions at the convergence of the public and private sectors. 

For more information about how we develop and support effective cross-sector partnerships in nutrition read our Action in Brief series here. 

 

Strategy

Science-based and economically viable innovations to reduce malnutrition Sight and Life informs, supports, designs, and incubates evidence-based malnutrition solutions. Originally a humanitarian aid program, our organization has continuously evolved in response to – and in anticipation of – the ever-changing nutrition landscape. This evolution necessitates regular reviews of our capabilities, capacities, objectives and strategic focus.

Following intensive reflection on how to use our unique strengths most effectively in the global battle against malnutrition, we have developed a new strategic plan for the period 2019 to 2021.

With decades of experience at the convergence of the public and private sectors, we are ideally positioned to catalyze innovative and much-needed collective action in nutrition. By leveraging the strengths and capacities of both industry and public-sector partners to address societal nutrition goals, we will deliver value to food- and nutrition-insecure populations, aiming to serve as a model for future cross-sector cooperation and impact.

Sight and Life’s refreshed strategy will deliver unique value to the nutrition community and to food- and nutrition-insecure populations by focusing our work in the following three areas:

1. Translating nutrition science so that programs, policies, and participants are informed and effective. Sight and Life creates and translates science primarily through technical assistance and communications tools such as Sight and Life magazine, presentations, and journal articles.

2. Building public–private partnerships, an underutilized mechanism in nutrition, which can accelerate the private sector’s engagement and maximize the impact of both the private and the public sector. Sight and Life has a history of creating and supporting successful public–private partner- ships and facilitating policy conversations.

3. Developing viable business models that are profitable or sustainably subsidized and increase the availability and desirability of nutritious foods. Using consumer insights and unique approaches to both demand and supply, Sight and Life creates business models that will be viable in the long run.

Read more about our strategy here. 

History

Ever since its creation in 1986, Sight and Life has been at the forefront of global efforts to improve vitamin A nutrition. Originally a purely humanitarian program, today we serve as a nutrition think tank.

1986 

RF Hoffman-LaRoche Ltd. launches the Sight and Life Task Force to help combat xerophthalmia, and reduce child death rates. The task to force was originally set up for three years.  

1989

Over three years, Sight and Life’s vitamin A intervention programs supported 52 projects in 29 countries, reaching thousands of children.

The decision is taken to continue Sight and Life’s work.

Sight and Life receives the Spirit of Helen Keller Award in recognition of its work towards eradication of vitamin A deficiency in developing countries. 

1994

Sight and Life’s first Secretary-General Dr John Gmünder steps down, having seen the organization provide 16 million doses of vitamin A. He is replaced by Dr Martin Frigg.

2003 

Sight and Life receives the IVACG Award for 15 years of contributions to global vitamin A deficiency and control.

Sight and Life transfers to DSM, a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials, after the acquisition of Roche’s vitamins and fine chemicals division. 

2005

Dr Martin Frigg steps down as Secretary-General, to be replaced by Dr Klaus Kraemer.

 

2007

Sight and Life catalyzes the formation of a public-private partnership between the World Food Programme and DSM, and becomes the partnership’s nutrition science hub.

This same year, the Micronutrient Forum acknowledges Sight and Life for its longstanding commitment to the alleviation of micronutrient malnutrition.

2008

Together with its partners, the World Food Programme and DSM, Sight and Life is the recipient of the UK’s Chemical Industry News & Intelligence ICIS Award for Best Innovation, for the MixMe™ Micronutrient Powder Supplement. 

2009

Sight and Life supports the creation of the Home Fortification Technical Advisory Group (HF-TAG), comprising stakeholders from the public, private, academic, and non-governmental organization sectors.

2010

Sight and Life signs on to and supports the creation of the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement (SUN). 

2011

Sight and Life celebrates 25 years of service to science and humanity, having donated $36 million USD and supported some 3,350 projects in over 80 countries. 

2012

Sight and Life awards its 1^st Nutrition Leadership award to Dr David Nabarro, representing the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. 

2013

Sight and Life becomes the principal technical partner in the Affordable Nutritious Food for Women (ANF4W) project in Ghana, established by the Deutsche Gesellschaft for Internationale Zusamenarbeit (GIZ), to increase the local supply and demand of affordable nutritious foods and focusing on women of reproductive age.

Sight and Life awards Dr Robert Black, as chair of the Lancet Maternal and Child Nutrition Study Group, the 2^nd Sight and Life Nutrition Leadership award during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. 

2014

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and DSM announce a renewed commitment to prevent micronutrient deficiencies with the launch of the Sight and Life Global Nutrition Research Institute at Johns Hopkins University.

Sight and Life broadens its focus as a think tank, to include implementation science, capacity building, and leadership development.

Dr Anna Lartey, Director of Nutrition at the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is honored with the 3^rd Sight and Life Nutrition Leadership award. 

2015

Sight and Life evolves its status to that of a Swiss foundation.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s director of nutrition, Dr Shawn Baker, receives the 4^th Sight and Life Nutrition Leadership award during an event celebrating dedicated leadership and nutrition driving implementation at the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Global Gathering.

Together with DSM, Sight and Life incubates Sizanani Mzanzi, a micro-franchising-focused business, dedicated to bringing affordable, nutritious foods to vulnerable children and reproductive age women in South Africa. 

Member states agree to develop a set of sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to build upon the MDGs and converge with the post-2015 development agenda. Food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture is one of the SDGs, and is recognized as being at the heart of the development.

2016

Sight and Life collaborates with PATH and local partners in Karnataka, India to improve nutrition status and build healthy hygiene habits amongst schoolchildren. The program provides a nutrient-rich meal of fortified rice while promoting good hygiene habits through peer role models, games, and problem-based learning. It aims to encourage positive attitudes towards sanitation and healthy eating in 2,600 schools in the Indian state of Karnataka, with the prospect of including all schools in Karnataka.

Sight and Life also co-edited the book “Good Nutrition: Perspectives for the 21st Century” a book detailing global nutrition from leading experts. 

Alongside scientists from Johns Hopkins University, Washington University, and the National Institutes of Health, Sight and Life has also been busy advancing research. Discovery research has showed that protein and essential amino acids are key to eliminating stunting. This work has placed the intake of high-quality protein such as animal-source foods back on the global agenda. We provided further insight regarding stunting, essential amino acids, and micronutrients, find out more in the Huffington Post. 

Sight and Life was a proud partner of the Micronutrient Forum in Cancun, Mexico. Along with the Society for Implementation Science in Nutrition, we held a symposium exploring ways in which implementation research could not only improve program coverage but also make better use of programs. In addition, at the Micronutrient Forum, we hosted an Elevator Pitch Contest, a unique forum for young innovators to make their case for why their ideas deserve funding.

2017

Sight and Life proudly presented two winners of the Sight and Life Nutrition Leadership award at the SUN Global Gathering in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Dr Shilpa Bhatte and Dr Ellen Piwoz were recognized as great leaders in the nutrition field who have a vision of an improved world and inspiring others to do the same.

Sight and Life announced a new partnership together with Royal DSM, a global science company active in health and nutrition, and UN children’s agency UNICEF to deliver better nutrition to at-risk children and mothers in Nigeria. The partners will also advocate on a global scale for micronutrient supplementation.

Our continued efforts to advance research lead to release of The Biology of the First 1,000 Days. From conception to two years of age, this is a critical period of growth and development during which exposures to dietary, environmental, hormonal, and other stressors during this window have been associated with an increased risk of poor health outcomes, some of which are irreversible. The book, The Biology of the First 1,000 Days, addresses this crucial interval of early life across biological disciplines, linking concepts related to all biological fields to outcomes during the first 1,000 days and beyond. The strength of this book lies in its cross-disciplinary nature.

2018

In Boston, during the American Society for Nutrition conference, we hosted an Elevator Pitch Contest calling young scientist and entrepreneurs to submit their concepts to improve nutrition assessment. Seven entrepreneurs were selected to pitch their innovations in nutrition assessment to a panel of discerning judges. Anne-Julie Tessier, from Canada’s McGill University, was awarded first place by the jury panel with her dietary intake innovation named Keenoa, an artificial intelligence based food dietary accessed through a mobile application.

Launched the inaugural Sight and Life Webinar series focusing on behavior change communications (BCC) was presented in a series of four webinars. In this series we examined the BCC process emphasizing experiential knowledge combined with research analysis, and identified tools and tips to help the program manager manage the BCC process.

Sight and Life magazine released with a focus on food product innovation and the huge potential it has to help us address key challenges in the journey to a sustainable planet that is free from all forms of malnutrition. The pages in this issue explore the spectrum of product innovation by providing a broad perspective from product discovery and formulation techniques through to cutting-edge developments with a promising positive impact on the future of nutrition. 

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), in collaboration with Sight and Life, Mars, Incorporated and Postharvest Loss Alliance for Nutrition (PLAN), invited ideas from students and young professionals for reducing or eliminating exposure to aflatoxin-contaminated foods and feed as part of the 2018 Elevator Pitch Contest (EPC). On October 25^th, six young innovators from around the globe pitched their ideas to a panel of experts, judges and potential investors for the 3rd edition of the Elevator Pitch Contest by Sight and Life. After much deliberation, Sight and Life proudly announced Alexandra Warrington from Future Food Now, and Alexandra Sanderson of Kumwe Harvest both entrepreneurs would be awarded the prestigious prize and seed money for their ideas to reduce aflatoxins!

The second edition of the Sight and Life magazine released in 2018 dives deep in to the topic of the Double Burden of Malnutrition and the challenges and opportunities the global community now faces in addressing all forms of malnutrition. Each article in this issue of the Sight and Life magazine is inspiring and thought-provoking and we very much hope you will enjoy it and trust that it will stimulate new ways of thinking that pave the way for meaningful and lasting change.

This new Sight and Life supplement with the World Food Programme explores these questions in depth. The comprehensive overview explains why fortifying rice with micronutrients can be part of an affordable, effective strategy to increase the intake of essential vitamins and minerals to reduce the prevalence of micronutrient malnutrition. Following the previous supplements on Scaling Up Rice Fortification in Latin America(2017) and Scaling Up Rice Fortification in Asia (2015), this edition takes a closer look at the continent that has the largest per capita rice consumption after Asia, yet where micronutrient deficiencies remain unacceptably high.

2019

On June 4^th, during the Women Deliver conference in Vancouver, Sight and Life along with partners organized Power for Mothers, a side event to understand why closing the gap in maternal is paramount, and how we can ensure all mothers get the critical vitamins and minerals they need. Compelling evidence shows that taking multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) during pregnancy reduces the risk of anemia in mothers and helps ensure babies are born healthy. But global recommendations lag behind the science, and many pregnant women cannot access MMS. This event triggered forward momentum and pushed for change in this space.

In this issue of the Sight and Life magazine, we used the data value chain as the organizing framework and invited authors who are thought leaders and practitioners not just to highlight the challenges along each step of the value chain but also to offer viable solutions that are pushing the envelope. 

The 4^th edition of the Elevator Pitch Contest by Sight and Life sought concepts for aspirational and affordable nutritious food products. On September 12, during the Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition (GISE) in Accra seven entrepreneurs pitched their innovations to a panel of judges. The winner of the competition was Zeenatu Suglo Adams from Pneuma Food Scientifics, a start-up that formulates affordable and nutritious snacks that taste great. 

egghub.org by Sight and Life launches online as a one-stop source for the most up-to-date information and research related to egg consumption and production in low and middle-income countries. This new website is dedicated specifically to eggs and aims to improve collaboration and innovation around eggs, two elements that are key to increasing the availability of eggs globally.