Turn the tide against global malnutrition: The importance of cross-sector collaboration

Summary 

• With over 950 million people at risk of facing severe food insecurity by 2030,^1,2 how can we get back on track to tackle global malnutrition and stay the course to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of zero hunger?
• To turn the tide and help forge a path toward healthier futures for all, cross-sector collaboration is vital in mobilizing, channeling, and delivering resources to where it’s most needed.
• Discover how cross-sector partnerships help uncover the true scale of the malnutrition crisis; deliver effective nutrition improvement programs; and rally stakeholders and resources for long-term change.

We’re just five years away from the 2030 deadline for the United Nations (UN) SDGs. But according to the World Food Security Outlook projections, more than 950 million people could remain at risk of facing severe food insecurity by 2030. ^1,2 The World Bank has also found that the lack of bold investments and policies could continue to push us further away from achieving our global goal of zero hunger.³ So, how can we get back on track and stay the course to combat malnutrition in all its forms?

Meeting this challenge on an international scale requires coordinated action of an equally broad magnitude. Today, malnutrition affects 733 million people globally, and it’s not just a public health emergency.⁴ Malnutrition also hinders economic and social progress in many countries that continue to grapple with crises fueled by factors like climate change, high food prices, and conflict. To turn the tide and help forge a path toward healthier futures for all, cross-sector collaboration is vital in mobilizing, channeling, and delivering resources to where they’re most needed. Here’s how.

Uncovering the true scale of the global malnutrition crisis

First, to effectively address global malnutrition, we need to understand its scope. This can be tricky, since hidden hunger—or micronutrient deficiency—is a big part of the problem. Hidden hunger is often attributed to energy-dense but nutrient-poor diets that are common in low- and middle-income countries that rely on low-cost food staples.⁵ The reality is, hidden hunger is pervasive across all income levels and regions—it’s an invisible global crisis that goes beyond food scarcity. Affecting over five billion people, or more than half of the global population, hidden hunger is one of the most pressing public health issues of our time.⁶

Bringing awareness to the true scale of the global malnutrition crisis is the first step in tackling it effectively. And uncovering and addressing malnutrition and hidden hunger on this scale requires collaborative action. For example, our recent webinar Bridging the micronutrient gap: Global action for a healthier future discussed how we still lack data to fully understand the scope of the problem. That’s because many countries don’t have recent, good quality biochemical and dietary intake data, especially at subnational levels. 

Cross-sector coordination is therefore instrumental in collating and applying these types of key data to better design, target, and monitor interventions. Data-driven insights on populations in need and nutritional interventions could also be vital in securing additional, much-needed investment from domestic, regional, and international stakeholders.

Delivering effective nutrition improvement interventions

Beyond equipping stakeholders with the right data, we need cross-sector engagement and accountability to advance nutrition improvement program implementation and success. Finding ways to improve the nutritional quality of diets for the most vulnerable people is central to meeting the UN zero hunger goal. And many cost-effective nutrition interventions rely on highly specialized solutions like innovative dry Vitamin A palmitate for flour fortification, and include programs such as large-scale food fortification. But to realize the potential for lasting change, the success of these initiatives hinges upon strong partnerships between food producers and manufacturers, governments, NGOs, and more.

Take school meal programs, for instance. These offer an efficient means to reach many vulnerable children with micronutrient-fortified meals. And this is where cross-sector partnership can amplify the positive impact on those in need. In fact, a group of governments, multilateral development banks, UN agencies, and philanthropic organizations recently committed to doubling school meals to reach 150 million children in the most affected countries by 2030. Demonstrating the power of cross-sector collaboration, this initiative was developed in connection with the new Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, launched at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio last year.

Private-sector organizations and companies have a key role to play too. As part of our commitment to advancing zero hunger initiatives, for example, we’ve also supported the Global Child Nutrition Foundation’s mission. Together, we helped deliver sustainable and nutritious school meal programs globally by meeting program leaders and providing fortification training to effect longer-term improvements to local food systems. 

Rallying stakeholders and resources for long-term change

Nutrition improvement programs and initiatives are one part of the solution. At a broader level, policy changes are essential for long-term progress too. Governments play a crucial role in promoting affordable nutritious foods and supporting sustainable agricultural practices.⁷ That’s why we need coordinated efforts from governments, NGOs, and the private sector to effectively rally and channel resources toward combating the global public health challenge posed by malnutrition.

In 2021, the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Tokyo summit mobilized over US$27 billion through 396 registered commitments made by 181 stakeholders across 78 countries. Maintaining a high level of political and financial engagement for nutrition, N4G Paris 2025 advocated for supportive and enabling regulatory environments, economic frameworks, and ambitious financial and political commitments to transform the “Nutrition Economy”. This multi-stakeholder summit involved governments, international organizations, research institutions, civil society and private sector entities, and more. The attendees also explored ways to develop and scale up nutrition-based solutions that also benefit food producers.

It's evident how valuable platforms like N4G are in bringing diverse stakeholders together and creating opportunities for them to collaborate on new fortification programs. More importantly, they help secure long-term commitments that are vital in the protracted fight against global malnutrition. 

In flour fortification, cereals and other food types

Tolerase® P, dsm-firmenich's phytase solution, offers benefits in a microgranulated form that ensures excellent flowability and uniform distribution, while maintaining stability throughout processing. With activity across a broad pH range (2.5–5.5), including digestive conditions, Tolerase® P maintains its efficacy in various production conditions. Additionally, Tolerase® P can be used across various applications such as micronutrient powders, spreads, and tabletop condiments, to provide both processing aid and/or food ingredient functionality depending on specific formulation needs.

Forging a brighter future for our global nutrition system

Nutrition is the basic cornerstone of health. And we believe in the power of purpose-led partnerships to create meaningful change. That's why we see a world with a nutrition system that’s transformed by public-private collaboration and focused on improving the quality of life of those most in need. Working with organizations like World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, and World Vision, we deliver solutions for equitable and essential nutrition (SEEN) that range from fortified foods to multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) tablets designed to meet the unique needs of each region. This partnership-driven model also enhances local capacities, providing a foundation for sustainable public health improvements.