DBT calls for research proposals on food fortification

Aim of making food fortification more efficacious

Nutritional anaemia is primarily caused due to deficiencies of micronutrients Food fortification as a strategy to address micronutrient malnutrition, has the dual advantage of being able to deliver nutrients to large segments of the population without requiring radical changes in food consumption patterns.

With an aim of making food fortification more efficacious and to help to reduce the burden of micronutrient malnutrition in the country, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) proposes to support R&D proposals in the following thrust areas of food fortification:

1. Novel fortificants/additives that can enhance the bioavailability of fortificants.
2. Sensory, acceptability and stability studies of fortified staples in real field conditions, food interactions and methods to overcome negative nutrient-nutrient/food interactions
3. Generate data on bioavailability of bio-fortified versus fortified food.
4. Micronutrient combinations to impact anaemia, bone health, reproductive health, work productivity, immunity etc among vulnerable population groups.
5. Studies that would evaluate potential negative interactions on health in response to consumption of fortified foods.
6. Role of other micronutrient nutrients (eg, calcium, zinc, vitamins) in determining co- fortification levels with iron for staples.
7. Studies that would provide new insights, data on fortified food acceptance, consumption, enablers, deterrents from the various stake holders (farmer, miller, consumer, socio economic, behavioral and cultural interactions).

Applications may be submitted by public and private universities, colleges, Institutes, non-profit organizations (recognized by DSIR as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO)). Development of interdisciplinary collaborative research team with involvement of experts from biomedical field is encouraged.