The Millers for Nutrition Bangladesh Country Conclave 2026 marked an important milestone in advancing food fortification and improving access to safe, nutritious food across Bangladesh. Hosted in Dhaka by Millers for Nutrition, powered by TechnoServe, the conclave brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from government, industry, academia, development partners, and the milling sector.

The conclave served as a national platform to align on a shared agenda for scaling sustainable food fortification through stronger public–private collaboration. Discussions focused on enhancing regulatory compliance, strengthening Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), and accelerating the adoption of innovation—including automation and artificial intelligence—within Bangladesh’s food processing sector. Participants also emphasized the need for coordinated, multi-stakeholder action to address industry challenges and deliver measurable nutrition outcomes.

The event was honored by the participation of senior leadership from the Directorate General of Food, along with key regulators, industry associations, food manufacturers, universities, and development organizations. Strategic fortification partners and global nutrition experts reaffirmed their commitment to providing technical expertise and long-term support to strengthen Bangladesh’s food fortification ecosystem.

As highlighted during the closing session, achieving nutrition at scale will require sustained collaboration, strong private sector leadership, and continued investment in food safety and fortification systems.

The conclave concluded with a renewed collective commitment to building a resilient, innovative, and inclusive food fortification ecosystem for Bangladesh—underscoring that meaningful nutrition impact begins with strong partnerships.

Panchamrutha Industries Pvt. Ltd., in collaboration with Millers for Nutrition powered by TechnoServe, today announced the launch of Panchamrutha Deluxe Fortified Rice, enriched with nine essential vitamins and minerals, at a special industry workshop titled “Unlocking Market Potential: Advancing Fortified Rice in Karnataka” held in Bengaluru.

The newly launched fortified rice is enriched with Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12, along with key minerals including Iron, Folic Acid and Zinc. The initiative underscores Panchamrutha Industries’ commitment to strengthening nutrition security by integrating essential micronutrients into a staple food consumed daily by millions of households.

The launch event brought together representatives from government bodies, nutrition scientists, healthcare professionals, food fortification experts, rice millers, and industry stakeholders to deliberate on the growing role of fortified staples in addressing micronutrient deficiencies and combating hidden hunger in India.

With a strong footprint across South India, Panchamrutha Industries has transitioned from a traditional grain business into a nutrition-led FMCG company focused on fortified staples and health-oriented food products. Operating from its advanced processing facility in Dharwad, with a production capacity exceeding 300 tonnes per day, the company combines modern fortification technology with its vision of making quality nutrition accessible to every household.

Speaking at the launch, Jambulingappa Hosmani, Managing Director, Panchamrutha Industries Pvt. Ltd., highlighted the public health relevance of fortified staples. He cited data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), noting that anaemia affects a significant proportion of children, adolescent girls and women of reproductive age in India. He emphasized that staple foods can play a transformative role in improving nutrition outcomes and said the launch of Panchamrutha Deluxe Fortified Rice aligns with the company’s goal of making nutrition a standard feature in everyday diets rather than a premium offering.

Panchamrutha Industries entered the fortified rice segment in 2023 with a focus on affordability and accessibility, offering fortified staples to consumers without additional cost. The fortified rice range is designed to retain the same taste, aroma and cooking characteristics as regular rice, while delivering enhanced nutritional value.

Highlighting the scientific importance of rice fortification, Dr. Usharani Dandamudi, Scientist F, Department of Food Safety and Analytical Quality Control Laboratory, CSIR-CFTRI, said rice fortification represents one of the most practical and scalable solutions to address micronutrient deficiencies in India, where rice is a dietary mainstay. She added that wider awareness and adoption of fortified staples can contribute significantly to building healthier communities.

Echoing this perspective, Pallavi Idooru, clinical nutritionist and diet influencer, noted that iron deficiency and anaemia continue to disproportionately affect women, particularly adolescent girls, pregnant women and young mothers. She said fortified rice can meaningfully support improved nutritional intake and maternal health when consumed regularly as part of a balanced diet.

India continues to face a substantial burden of hidden hunger, with iron deficiency and anaemia impacting millions of women and children nationwide. Fortified rice is increasingly being recognized as an effective and scalable intervention to improve nutrition security by delivering essential vitamins and minerals through a food consumed daily across socio-economic groups.

Speaking on the importance of industry leadership in food fortification, Abhishek Shukla, Country Program Manager – India, Millers for Nutrition, said rice’s universal consumption makes it one of the most effective vehicles for delivering improved nutrition at scale. He noted that the launch of Panchamrutha Deluxe Fortified Rice marks an important step in expanding consumer access to fortified staples and strengthening industry participation in India’s nutrition journey.

The workshop featured discussions on food fortification policies, regulatory frameworks, micronutrient stability in fortified rice, and collaborative approaches to scaling nutrition impact. The programme concluded with a shared emphasis on the need for continued collaboration between industry, policymakers, nutrition experts and development organizations to accelerate awareness and adoption of fortified foods in the open market.

Sree Sai Roller Flour Mills Pvt. Ltd. (SSRFM), a leading name in India’s wheat milling industry for over three decades, has announced the launch of MINAR Fortified Protein Plus MultiGrain Atta, its most nutritionally advanced flour to date. The launch marks a significant step in the company’s retail growth strategy, bringing its deep expertise in grain processing directly to consumers through a health-focused everyday staple.

The product was unveiled in Hyderabad in the presence of film actress Shriya Saran and brand ambassador Chef Sanjay Thumma, signaling SSRFM’s accelerated entry into the Health & Lifestyle foods segment. With this addition to its MINAR brand portfolio, the company aims to redefine the daily roti by enhancing it with functional nutrition tailored for modern, health-conscious households.

Positioned as the “gold standard” within the MINAR range, Fortified Protein Plus MultiGrain Atta is designed to bridge traditional diets with functional wellness. The product delivers up to 50% higher protein than regular wheat flour, with just three rotis providing nearly one-third of an adult’s daily protein requirement. It is made from a scientifically developed blend of premium Sharbati wheat, soy, maize, and chana, further enhanced with plant-based protein isolates from soy, pea, and brown rice. In addition, the atta is fortified with essential micronutrients including Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, Zinc, and Vitamin A to help address micronutrient deficiencies and support immunity.

Commenting on the launch, Ramprakash Nagori, Managing Director, Sree Sai Roller Flour Mills, said the new product reflects the company’s evolving understanding of consumer needs. “After 30 years in the industry, we know that consumers today are looking for more than just flour. By strengthening our portfolio with this premium, nutrition-forward variant, we are working to make meaningful nutrition accessible to everyday Indian kitchens,” he said.

Aditya Bansal, Executive Director, SSRFM, highlighted the research-led approach behind the product. “This launch is the outcome of extensive R&D by our food technologists focused on high-protein diets. It offers a simple way to improve nutrient intake without changing eating habits, especially for growing children, working professionals, and fitness enthusiasts,” he noted.

Monojit Indra, Senior Practice Leader at TechnoServe and Program Lead, Millers for Nutrition Asia, emphasized the broader nutrition impact of such innovations. He said fortified staples like wheat flour offer a powerful opportunity to address protein gaps and micronutrient deficiencies at scale, adding that initiatives such as MINAR Fortified Protein Plus MultiGrain Atta demonstrate how scientific formulation and everyday accessibility can come together to reduce hidden hunger.

Echoing this perspective, Abhishek Shukla, Country Program Manager, Millers for Nutrition, India, said staple food fortification remains one of the most effective strategies to tackle micronutrient deficiencies across populations. He noted that nutrition-focused innovations led by millers can play a critical role in improving community health outcomes across India.

MINAR Fortified Protein Plus MultiGrain Atta will be available in 1 kg packs across grocery stores, supermarkets, and e-commerce platforms. The rollout will initially focus on Hyderabad, Telangana, and southern markets, followed by a phased expansion nationwide. While positioned at a slight premium to regular atta, the product is designed to remain accessible while offering enhanced nutritional benefits.

A significant milestone in India’s journey to combat hidden hunger was marked with the launch of Sona Bharat by BMF Agri Pvt Ltd at its fully automated rice milling plant in Dubrajpur. The state-of-the-art facility, equipped with an advanced blending system, was inaugurated on the same day—demonstrating how technology and nutrition can come together to deliver impact at scale.

The launch and accompanying plant visit offered a closer look at how fortified rice, enriched with essential micronutrients, can be seamlessly integrated into large-scale production processes while maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and consistency. The facility stands as a strong example of how modern milling infrastructure can support national nutrition goals without disrupting efficiency or commercial viability.

Speaking at the occasion, Abhishek Shukla, Country Program Manager, Millers for Nutrition India, emphasized the transformative potential of fortification: by enriching everyday staple foods like rice with vital nutrients, millers can play a pivotal role in addressing micronutrient deficiencies while contributing to healthier communities and long-term economic progress.

Initiatives such as this underscore the growing leadership of progressive millers in advancing nutrition security. They also reflect the broader vision of Millers for Nutrition—leveraging food fortification as a sustainable, market-led solution to improve public health outcomes across India.

As fortified staples move from mills to millions of plates, actions like these bring us closer to a future where better nutrition is built into everyday diets.