info@fortifyfood.org

KEY MILESTONES

2020

  • Fortify and The Wellbeing Foundation Africa partner to reach nurses, midwives, and women of childbearing age about the benefits of consuming iron fortified foods
  • Olam submits application to Ghana FDA for approval of iron fortified tomato mix
  • Olam launches distribution of iron fortified rice in Ghana

2019

  • Olam launches the first-ever iron fortified processed tomato products in West Africa for consumers
  • Fortify’s CEO, Nancy and Olam’s Head of Innovation, Kamesh Ellajosyula, invited to high-level meeting in The Hague to contribute to recommendations for private sector contributions to the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit 2020
  • Project Iron Strong advanced in the USAID/Nigeria grant opportunity and is one of final contenders for funding

2018

  • GAIN releases results of exploration study of potential new food vehicles in Nigeria, as requested by USAID, and confirms widespread consumption of tomato paste
  • Fortify presents the potential of iron fortification to a Nigerian tomato stew company based in Lagos
  • Fortify begins discussions with Nigerian processor to develop an iron fortified product for institutional buyers

2017

  • Fortify begins discussions between Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Africa Academy for Public Health in Tanzania, and Tuft’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy to develop methodology for assessment of iron needs in Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Olam completes lab trials of the iron fortified tomato mix, and moves onto shelf life testing

2016

  • Fortify is contacted by Dr. Adballah Ramadhani Noor, Tanzanian colleague of Dr. Fawzi at Africa Academy for Public Health, who expresses interest in iron fortification in Tanzania
  • Olam International’s packaged foods team begins research phase for iron fortification of tomato mix

2015

  • Fortify’s CEO, Nancy Martin meets the CEO of Olam International, Sunny Verghese, and presents the case for Olam to add iron to its leading brand of tomato paste - Tasty Tom - distributed in West Africa
  • Fortify presents to a team of nutrition experts at USAID’s, including senior nutrition scientist, Dr. Omar Dary, and presents case for tomato paste as iron delivery food vehicle in Nigeria
  • USAID asks GAIN to conduct study on tomato paste consumption in Nigeria

2014

  • The Honourable Akin Adesina introduces Fortify to the Dangote Group, owner of Dansa Foods, an importer of tomato paste
  • Ebola, Boko Haram and upcoming Nigerian presidential election disrupt business and politics in Nigeria- forward momentum is lost
  • Tomato Jos, a start-up tomato farming and processing business concept at Harvard Business School incorporates and contacts Fortify for potential collaboration

2013

  • Fortify’s CEO, Nancy Martin meets with Nigerian Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development – the Honourable Akin Adesina
  • Develops relationship with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
  • Fortify travels to Abuja and presents to the Nigerian Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development the case for developing Nigeria’s tomato value chain, with a goal of in-country tomato processing and iron fortification

2012

  • Fortify’s CEO, Nancy Martin develops a business plan to find solutions for reducing iron deficiency in Africa and wins funding in the Social New Venture Challenge Competition at the prestigious Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago
  • Incorporated as Fortify, a 501 (c)(3) company in Illinois
  • Initial contact with Dr. Wafaie Fawzi,of the Harvard School of Public Health

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