Among the initiatives developed by groups committed to improving food, nutrition and health security, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) premix facility (GPF) is a novel offering that promises to provide high-quality premix from certified suppliers at competitive prices. Premix is a commercially prepared mixture of key vitamins and minerals to fortify staple foods such as flour and salt.
"This is one of the more brilliant, innovative initiatives that has come out of the nutrition community, and it is a program to watch closely," said Katharine Kreis, Interim Deputy Director for Nutrition at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
As I have remarked in earlier blog posts, the real challenge for leaders working in malnutrition is achieving sustained success over time. It requires streamlined, transparent and efficient malnutrition programs that provide high-quality foods to meet the needs of affected communities.
In an interview with Phillipe Guinot, Premix Facility Program Manager, I was inspired to learn about GPF as it provides a solution to one of the very challenges discussed in this blog before.
GPF addresses the problem of the high-cost of high-volume premix, and the need for streamlined quality assurance for governments and industry partners managing food fortification programs. The four key components included in the GPF:
- Certification to establish industry standards and quality guidelines, as well as verifying that premix quality is sufficient to achieve intended nutritional objectives.
- Procurement assistance to promote fair and competitive pricing, and give small organizations access to a group of leading premix suppliers.
- Assisted financing to support approved customers with the cost burden of premix purchases, making the purchase of quality premix financially viable.
- Grant mechanism to provide premix for fortified foods as part of public-sector initiatives and emergency situations.
"For customers, who are often governments and non-governmental organizations, the GPF assures high-quality products, cost competitiveness, and a simple and efficient process," said Guinot. "GPF works with both procurement and certification specialists to increase competition among suppliers and drive down costs. We validate the quality systems of all our suppliers and test every product before delivery."
Guinot also outlined the GPF revolving fund mechanism, which offers 30-day interest free credit facility for approved customers. This financing assistance helps make the upfront cost of premix more manageable, and the GPF more accesible to organizations that are on the frontlines of combating malnutrition in the world's most affected communities.
The GPF demonstrates a smart, sustainable business approach to addressing a critical gap in the nutrition arena. To learn more, visit https://www.gainhealth/org/gpf .
