Development Partnership for Edible Oil Fortification
BASF, in partnership with BioAnalyt, helped to reduce vitamin and mineral deficiencies in people at risk in over 40 developing countries.
Social impacts
Business impacts
BASF set up a technical co-operation partnership with BioAnalyt, which develops and manufactures nutrient test kits, to support the fortification of staple foods (like edible oil and flour) in newly industrialised and underdeveloped countries.
Key to the project was the development of two portable, easy-to-use systems to measure micronutrient content in staple foods, such as vitamin A in oil. This allows compliance with food fortification standards and quality controls.
The partnership worked in Bolivia, Tanzania and Indonesia to provide the local food industry with technical training and access to quality vitamins. 114 million people in these countries now have affordable access to quality controlled vitamin A fortified oil.
What BASF SE's Chairman and Board member said:
"Malnourishment is a serious problem in today's world. Thus, BASF's Food Fortification Initiative supports programmes of international organisations, governments, academia, civil society or private sector geared towards sustainably improving food and nutrition security." - Kurt Bock, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, BASF SE
"The long-term consequences of vitamin A deficiency for the people concerned range from a permanently weakened immune system to infectious diseases and blindness. The initiative has enabled us to improve the nutrition situation for many millions of people." - Michael Heinz, Member of the Board of Executive Directors, BASF SE