Millers for Nutrition pushes collaboration to improve food safety

The Millers for Nutrition coalition, powered by TechnoServe, convened the Bangladesh Country Conclave 2026 in Dhaka, aiming to catalyse public–private collaboration on food fortification, food safety, and access to fortified foods.

Held on 21 May 2026, the conclave brought together representatives from government, industry, development organisations, and academia to explore strategies to advance food fortification and improve nutrition outcomes in Bangladesh.

The event spotlighted the need for enhanced food safety compliance, the adoption of innovative technologies—including automation—and the promotion of sustainable fortification practices within Bangladesh's food processing sector.

Discussions addressed regulatory and industry challenges, technical support mechanisms, and the imperative to strengthen Food Safety Management Systems.

Md Guljer Ahmmed, Country Programme Manager of TechnoServe Bangladesh, welcomed participants and underscored the importance of collective action and robust industry engagement to expand access to fortified foods nationwide.

Md Jamal Hossain, Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Food, attended as a special guest and highlighted the role of fortified staples in addressing malnutrition.

M Jashim Uddin Khan, Director General of the Directorate General of Food, served as chief guest and stressed the importance of fortified food production, industry compliance, and coordinated multi-stakeholder collaboration to improve national nutrition outcomes.

Prof Dr Md Rostom Ali, in a technical presentation on automation of fortified rice blending systems, demonstrated a prototype and discussed the technology's potential to reduce manual labour currently required by millers.

Zakir Ibne Hai, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of ACI Foods and Beverage, reiterated ACI's commitment to expanding food fortification coverage and acknowledged support from the Millers for Nutrition initiative.

Md Moin Uddin Masud, Organising Secretary of the Bangladesh Fortified Rice Mill Association, emphasised the need for private-sector leadership, deeper engagement with millers, and ongoing implementation of technical support to sustain forts.

Md Kamal Uddin, sharing practical experience of Food Safety Management System implementation, highlighted the role of enhanced food safety systems in improving compliance and boosting consumer confidence.

Professor Dr Mohammad Shoeb, Member (Food Industry and Production) of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, outlined regulatory priorities and strategic actions to reinforce Bangladesh's food fortification ecosystem.

In the closing session, Monojit Indra, Programme Leader (Asia) for Millers for Nutrition at TechnoServe, presented the initiative's future vision, with an emphasis on sustained collaboration, industry participation, and the nationwide scale-up of food fortification interventions.

The conclave drew representatives from the Directorate General of Food, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution, Food Planning and Monitoring Unit, Department of Women Affairs, universities, development organisations, millers' associations, food industries, and fortified rice kernel manufacturers.

Strategic Fortification Partners of the Millers for Nutrition initiative—including BASF, Hexagon Nutrition, and Bühler—alongside development partners such as the World Food Programme, Nutrition International, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, and National Heart Foundation, shared technical insights and reaffirmed their commitment to food fortification initiatives in Bangladesh.

The conclave underscored food fortification as a critical strategy for improving nutrition and public health, driven by robust public–private collaboration, improved food safety practices, and greater adoption of automation, artificial intelligence, and technical support.

The event concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening partnerships, enhancing regulatory compliance, and advancing sustainable fortification initiatives nationwide.