Raising awareness to end hidden hunger

Summary

• Hunger comes in many forms and often it’s the ‘hidden’ lack of essential micronutrients that has the most far-reaching impact. Addressing the needs of more than three billion people affected by this hidden hunger requires more accessible and affordable nutrition.  
• To amplify the urgency of the situation, the dsm-firmenich team and our non-profit partners have orchestrated a debut music video which acts as a powerful (and catchy!) call to action, encouraging everyone to take the first step to make a difference. 
• Read on to find out how you can make an impact to end micronutrient deficiencies by dedicating some of your time, speaking up or sparing a dime. 

Make a difference, make a donation 

It is possible to end world hunger – but the amazing organizations that are working towards this goal every day need your support. For instance, WFP reached 160 million people with lifeline food and other assistance in 2022, but it needs more funding to be able to continue its life-saving, life-changing work, fighting hunger while addressing its root causes among communities. WFP has the infrastructure to take your donation to where it is needed most: when you donate, WFP immediately turns your generosity into food and help for people in need in over 120 countries worldwide.  

At dsm-firmenich, we believe that eating right is a human right. That’s why we’re on a path to make nutritious food more accessible to those who need it the most. Hunger comes in many forms and often it’s the ‘hidden’ lack of essential micronutrients (the essential vitamins and minerals we need to survive and thrive) that has the most widespread – and detrimental – impact. This is known as hidden hunger, because the signs that accompany it aren’t as immediately obvious as those of starvation, for example. Today, hidden hunger affects more than three billion people worldwide.¹ We can’t wait for a miracle to help these people – we must act now and, together, we can drive progress towards ending hunger for everyone, everywhere.

Read on to learn how we’re making an impact, from creative songs to cost-effective nutrition solutions – and find out how you can make a difference too.

A hunger hidden in plain sight

A baseline of balanced nutrition is the foundation of opportunity for personal, sociocultural, and even economic development. But nutritional conditions in many communities around the world are anything but balanced, with up to 828 million people going to bed on an empty stomach every night. Children in these populations often have difficulties with their physiological development and frequently struggle to learn, resulting in a life marked by a lack of opportunities. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), getting healthy food to undernourished children makes them 33% more likely to escape the vicious cycle of hunger and poverty.² 

Women, too, are particularly vulnerable to various forms of malnutrition, including hidden hunger. In fact, a recent report has shed light on the staggering impact of micronutrient deficiencies across the globe, with two-in-three women of reproductive age and one-in-two preschool-aged children being deficient in vitamin A, iron, zinc or folic acid – putting them at risk of a weak immune system, slow growth and low productivity.¹

Hidden hunger has no boundaries, and while developing countries are most affected – with nine-in-ten women in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa having at least one micronutrient deficiency – high-income countries are no exception.¹ In fact, one-in-three women in the United States (US) and one-in-two women in the United Kingdom (UK) also have at least one micronutrient deficiency.¹ In addition, a staggering 4.7 million people in the UK were affected by food poverty in 2021-2022, which included 12% of children. 

To tackle hunger and end malnutrition, the world needs optimal, accessible and affordable nutrition. At dsm-firmenich, we are committed and engaged to make this happen. But we can’t build a future with zero hunger alone …

Raising our voices to raise awareness 

To encourage more people to join the fight against hidden hunger, we need to overcome the first challenge: lack of awareness. To achieve that goal, our team of public health nutrition experts decided to take a more artistic and creative approach to spreading the word. The dsm-firmenich team has officially launched its musical career with the creation of the impact song! By raising their voices together, the aim of the song is to make people more aware of the global effect of inadequate nutrition and encourage everyone to take the first step to make a positive impact to close the micronutrient gap – no matter how big or small. 

 Wondering how you can make an impact? Here are some tips to get you started: 

• Sing the Impact Song and raise awareness far and wide! Please make sure to credit dsm-firmenich but sing it with pride.
• Speak up, take action, and donate what you can – WFP will put your generous donation to immediate use, helping fight hunger and save lives around the world. 
• Our song belongs to all who care. Let’s sing at home and work, let’s nourish and share! 

Our nutrition team joins together in song to illuminate the global impact of hidden hunger and encourage donations to the World Food Programme.