NIFTEM signs MoU with Hexagon Nutrition for setting up rice fortification unit

On 21 April 2022, the Centre of Excellence for Food Fortification (CEFF) added another milestone as the National Institute of Food Technology and Entrepreneurship Management (NIFTEM), an institute under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hexagon Nutrition for the setting up of a rice fortification unit.

Another feather in the cap is the commencement of capacity-building programs for Health Supplements and Nutraceuticals in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) (through Resource Centre for Health Supplements and Nutraceuticals that is ReCHaN), under the aegis of CEFF.

The Centre of Excellence for Food Fortification (CEFF) has been set up at NIFTEM, Kundli, Haryana, in partnership with Hexagon Nutrition and GAIN. This is a first-of-its-kind partnership wherein a development sector agency, a nutraceutical manufacturer, and an Institute of National importance have spearheaded a food fortification drive to eradicate malnutrition, which has continued as a major challenge for the country.

The CEFF was inaugurated at NIFTEM Kundli Campus a month ago. The primary objective of establishing this center of excellence is to bolster the practical know-how of the staple food fortification process and this theoretical knowledge via classroom training and on-site demonstrations.

CEFF is an ultimate training arena for those who want to contribute to the food processing industry with staple food fortification, including students, FBOs, or any other food development professional. With CEFF, NIFTEM envisions establishing three manufacturing and demonstration units of food fortification.

NIFTEM is known for bracing the entrepreneurial force in the food processing industry, therefore partnering with Hexagon Nutrition - a differentiated and research-oriented pure-play nutrition company, which is famous for its micronutrient premixes clinical nutrition products, and therapeutic foods; enhances the program in totality. Hexagon Nutrition will be extending complete support to the center of excellence; it will be a combined effort to strengthen the practical and theoretical knowledge of the students regarding food fortification.