MONHEIM, GERMANY — Bayer is expanding its Nutrient Gap Initiative, one of the company’s signature sustainability programs, to improve nutritious food and safety net supplementation access through food, namely fruits, vegetables and grains.

“As a global leader in both agriculture and nutritional supplements, Bayer is uniquely positioned to help all people get access to proper nutrition,” said Heiko Schipper, president of the Consumer Health Division of Bayer AG and member of the board of management. “The roots of malnutrition are complex and far from one-size-fits-all, so we’re drawing on competencies from across our company to fight it. We want to remove the barriers to a healthy diet for those who need it most,” 

The initial goal of the program, which is marking its second anniversary, was to expand access to essential vitamins and minerals to 50 million people in underserved communities by 2030, with a focus on nutritional supplementation, a critical tool to build a safety net that protects communities from the ravages of malnutrition. 

Some of the programs Bayer will be implementing in 2023 include: access to prenatal nutrition, smallholder farmer nutrition education, seed distribution and education in India, digital advice for smallholders, collaboration with health workers in Africa, research and development commitment for nutrition and affordable nutritionals portfolio.

“For people in underserved communities, access to nutritious food is a challenge due to the cost and local availability of fresh produce and grains,” said Rodrigo Santos, president of the Crop Science Division of Bayer AG and member of the board of management. “As part of our critical work for food security and smallholder farmers, the Nutrient Gap Initiative will help improve the livelihoods of people who do not have access to vitamins and minerals, leveraging also our Better Life Farming Centers.” 

With the Nutrient Gap Initiative, Bayer aims to consolidate the company’s commitment to food security by addressing both the quantity of food needed to tackle world hunger, as well as the quality needed to ensure healthy lives, with access to essential vitamins and minerals. 

In 2022, the Nutrient Gap Initiative had an impact on more than 19 million people in underserved communities, Bayer said, accelerating the company’s goal to expand access to everyday health for 100 million people in underserved communities. As the program evolves to expand access to nutritious food, in addition to vitamins and mineral supplementation, Bayer will be able to offer more tools, services and programs to help build healthier, more resilient communities.