Tata Trusts and leading global food manufacturer Mars Incorporated have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together to advance agriculture development, address malnutrition and improve food safety in India.
Key features of MoU
Mars Incorporated would work with the Tata Trusts “to develop methods and tools to increase crop productivity, farm income, and sustainability of select agriculture commodities, and to collaborate on the availability of safe, affordable, and sustainable raw materials from India.”
The crops that will be focus include mint, peanuts, rice, and legumes. Mars Food, a segment of Mars, Incorporated, will also conduct joint research with Tata Trusts on nutritional guidelines that can help address anemia and other forms of malnutrition.
Mars and the Tata Trusts would collaborate on reducing Aflatoxin contamination in India’s supply chain. Aflatoxin, a naturally occurring poisonous chemical produced by certain molds is a critical food safety issue in India.
Mars has unique expertise in addressing Aflatoxin contamination and can draw on its Global Food Safety Centre in China to conduct future research in this area.
The Mars Global Food Safety Centre is a research and training facility that will drive a global focus on addressing food safety challenges through partnership and collaboration with others. Ninety-five per cent of the work conducted at the centre is expected to be shared on a pre-competitive basis.
Issues of Concern
3 million children under the age of five will die worldwide as a result of malnutrition (GAIN Report, 2015). Malnutrition and under-nutrition are significant issues of concern in India. Currently, one in every three malnourished children lives in India (UNICEF, 2015), 46 per cent of all children below the age of 3 are too small for their age and 47 per cent are underweight.
Under the MOU, Mars and Tata Trusts intend to work together to explore how best to improve nutrition in India, especially among children.
About Mars Incorporated
More than century old Mars, Incorporated has brands like M&M’S, PEDIGREE, DOUBLEMINT and UNCLE BEN’S. The company has more than $33 billion in sales from six diverse business segments.
About Tata Trust
Tata Trusts that will participate in the initiative include Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Sir Ratan Tata Trust, and Navajbhai Ratan Tata Trust. All these trusts collectively known as Tata Trusts are coalition of philanthropic trusts that have been working to improve the quality of life of people in India.
Current Affairs: 6th January, 2016 Current Affairs Round up December, 2015.
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