Activity Description: Micronutrient deficiencies threaten the health, development, and productivity of millions of people worldwide. One approach to alleviating malnutrition is fortifying food with micronutrients. On a large scale, food fortification can be cost-effective and sustainable, and it allows people to get more nutritional value from the food they already eat.

To bring fortification to vulnerable rice-consuming communities, PATH developed a manufactured “Ultra Rice"--which can be mixed with rice and mimics the look, feel, and taste of rice--to provide nutrients the local diet may lack. In Colombia, two versions have been developed. One carries vitamin A; the other carries thiamin, folic acid, and zinc. An iron-bearing formula is expected to hit the commercial market later this year.

To reach nutritionally vulnerable populations, PATH looks for markets where there is a need and then licenses the manufacturing technology to selected commercial partners. Market-driven commercial production ultimately should help support long-term social distribution to populations in need.

PATH has successfully introduced the Ultra Rice® technology to 66,000 schoolchildren in Colombia, markets in Brazil, and has made significant progress in China and India.