Food Fortification Initiative

The Food Fortification Initiative (FFI) champions effective grain fortification so people have the nutrition they need to be smarter, stronger, and healthier.

A third of the world's population is affected by micronutrient deficiencies. Inadequate intake of micronutrients like iron and folic acid have devastating impacts on individuals and entire populations. The consequences of micronutrient deficiencies can be extensive, including birth defects, impaired brain development in young children, and reduced work capacity among adults. Food fortification is a proven, cost-effective intervention to prevent micronutrient deficiencies.

That's why we help country leaders plan, implement, and monitor fortification of industrially milled wheat flour, maize flour, and rice. The only global group that focuses exclusively on these commonly consumed grains, we use evidence-based decision making to effectuate large-scale change. FFI is also the only organization that tracks country and global progress in grain fortification. Read more about FFI’s regional work and progress in our Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, India, and Middle East profiles.

An Executive Management Team (EMT) representing global leaders in the public, private, and civic sectors provides FFI's strategic direction. A small FFI Global Secretariat is based at Emory University adjacent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. In addition, individual staff members are based in Egypt, India, and Uganda.

Established in 2002, FFI is a center based at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, which contributes office space and administrative support but not core funding to FFI.