DSM and UN WFP strengthen partnership to combat global malnutrition
January 24, 2013 - Heerlen, The Netherlands
Royal DSM, the global LifeSciences and Materials Sciences company, and theUnited Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the world's largest humanitarianorganization fighting hunger around the world, today signed an Agreementextending their existing partnership for three years (to 2015) to combathiddenhunger and malnutrition in the developing world. DSM and WFP will seek todoublethe number of people who benefit from their work together, from the currentannual reach of 15 million to 25-30 million per year by 2015. DSM'spublic-private partnership with WFP, in place since 2007, has contributedto improvingthe diets of people, using essential vitamins, nutrients and fortifiedrice, incountries that include Nepal, Kenya, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Thestrengthened partnership will focus on pregnant and nursing women, youngchildren and vulnerable households.
Feike Sijbesma, CEO and Chairman of the DSM Managing Board, said: "DSM'smissionis to provide brighter lives for people today and generations to come. Ourpartnership with the UN WFP is about improving nutrition and fightingmicronutrient deficiencies. As the world's largest producer of vitamins andother micronutrients we have a clear responsibility to help solve theglobe'smost solvable problem: hidden hunger. DSM is immensely proud of ourpartnershipwith WFP and intensifying this successful relationship has yielded theambitiousplan of more than doubling the number of beneficiaries over the next threeyears."
Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director, UN World Food Programme, stated:"Investingin nutrition solutions for the world's most vulnerable people is anessentialelement of the fight against global hunger. With DSM's continued support,WFP iscommitted to providing the right food at the right time, especially forchildrenin the first 1,000 days of life. When building the potential of futuregenerations, there is no substitute for good nutrition."
The DSM-WFP partnership
As one of WFP's Global Humanitarian Partners, DSM combines technical andscientific expertise with high-nutrient products and financial assistancetohelp improve the nutritional value of the food WFP distributes to those inneed.DSM supports WFP operations around the world through the addition ofcriticalvitamins, minerals and other micronutrients to WFP's food basket
Through the partnership with WFP, DSM has used its unique scientificexpertisein health and nutrition to develop micronutrient innovations that meet thespecific nutrition needs of the people WFP supports, including ready-to-usesachets of vitamins and minerals that can be added to food (MixMe™), aswellas fortified rice (Nutririce(®)). DSM has also helped WFP improve theformula ofits fortified blended foods.
DSM and WFP will continue to trial and test new products and programs thattackle hidden hunger and malnutrition. DSM will also continue assisting WFPinimplementing its nutrition strategy at national, regional and globallevels,providing on-going technical and scientific support and supplying foodsupplements and food fortification products.. To enhance this vitalpartnership,DSM and WFP will reach out to engage governments and stakeholders and willencourage fundraising activities by DSM's 22,000 employees, based on thecompany's core belief that business cannot succeed in a society that fails.
The solvable global problem: hunger
An estimated 2 billion people globally suffer from the effects ofmicronutrientdeficiencies, in that they don't receive the necessary levels of vitaminsandminerals that allow them to develop to their full mental and physicalpotential.This hidden hunger has a major impact on child development, educationalattainment, economic productivity and can lead to chronic diseases andhighermortality.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies account for an estimated 7% of the globaldisease burden, while iron, vitamin A and zinc deficiencies rank among thetop10 leading causes of death due to disease in developing countries. Thementaldevelopment in 40% - 60% of infants in the developing world is impaired duetonutrition insecurity and micronutrient deficiency. Micronutrientsupplementationand fortification have been ranked as the top development investments bytheCopenhagen Consensus; indeed, malnutrition can lower a nation's GDP by atleast2% - 3%.
For further information on the work of the partnership please visit: www.wfp.org/companies and www.dsm.com
UN World Food Programme (WFP)
WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.Eachyear, on average, WFP feeds more than 90 million people in more than 70countries. Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media or visit us at www.wfp.org.
DSM - Bright Science. Brighter Living.™
Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition andmaterials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences andMaterialsSciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress andsocialadvances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders. DSM deliversinnovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance inglobalmarkets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed,pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical andelectronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials.DSM's22,000 employees deliver annual net sales of around EUR9 billion. Thecompany islisted on NYSE Euronext. More information can be found at www.dsm.com.
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Press release-pdf:http://hugin.info/130663/R/1672829/544473.pdf
Feike Sijbesma and Ertharin Cousin-jpg:http://hugin.info/130663/R/1672829/544474.jpg
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For more information:
DSM Corporate Communications
Eric Drosin
tel. +31 (0) 45 5782035
e-mail Email Contact
UN World Food Programme
Molly Slotznick
tel. +39 345 644 3105
e-mail Email Contact
DSM Investor Relations
Dave Huizing
tel. +31 (0) 45 5782864
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