Established in 1961 in Mymensingh, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) is the nation’s premier residential institution for higher agricultural education and research. As the primary source of skilled human capital driving the country's terrestrial and aquatic productivity, BAU is dedicated to producing first-rate scientists through profession-based education focused on relevance, quality, and internationalization. The university plays a critical role in the socio-economic development of Bangladesh by conducting impactful basic and applied research to solve challenges faced by farmers and agro-industrialists, while simultaneously supervising vital extension activities and providing specialized training for government and non-government organizations. Today, BAU continues to evolve as an integrated institution, fostering key functional relationships with the private sector and global partners to facilitate bilateral and multilateral cooperation, ensuring the nation's agricultural sector remains resilient and adaptive in a fast-changing world system.

The Centre for Food Fortification, Quality and Safety (CFQS) is a national level platform dedicated to improving nutrition and food safety in Bangladesh. This is a transformative initiative by GAIN and Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) designed to combat persistent nationwide micronutrient deficiencies. While food fortification is a proven strategy to address malnutrition, domestic implementation faces technical capacity gaps and inconsistent quality assurance. Leveraging BAU’s advanced research facilities and scientific fame, CFQS serves as a specialized national hub to institutionalize mainstream, and scale fortification programs.

By integrating evidence-based research with policy advocacy, the Centre unites government agencies, academia, and the private sector to strengthen laboratory infrastructure, standardize safety protocols, and build industry capacity. Its foundational milestones include the formal approval of BAU's Vice Chancellor. Crucially, the roadmap now transitions to its next strategic phase, where the University Grants Commission (UGC) played a pivotal role by anchoring high-level policy guidance to align national regulatory frameworks, secure institutional backing, and ensure long-term public health impacts.