The concept for the Centre for Food Fortification, Quality and Safety (CFQS) previously referred to in development stages as the Centre of Excellence for Food Fortification (CEFF), emerged from a critical need to address persistent micronutrient deficiencies in Bangladesh. While the country has mandatory fortification for salt (iodine) and edible oil (Vitamin A), progress in improving micronutrient status required a more dedicated, centralized institutional approach.

• South-South Learning Inspiration: In December 2023, a high-level delegation from Bangladesh visited the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) in India. The delegation was inspired by NIFTEM’s "Centre of Excellence for Food Fortification" model, which integrates research, business promotion, and quality control.

• Institutional Selection: Following this visit, a technical assessment initially considered three premier institutes: the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science (INFS) at Dhaka University, and Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU).

• Final Venue: Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) was ultimately selected due to its advanced research infrastructure and the presence of the Professor Mohammad Hossain Central Laboratory (PMHCL), which offers the necessary technological capabilities to support the private sector.

• Collaboration: The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) partnered with PMHCL to formalize this initiative, aiming to evaluate and establish the operational scope, infrastructure, and management protocols for the new national hub.

The CFQS is designed to function as a national platform to ensure the availability of safe, and nutrient rich food across Bangladesh. Mission: To lead research, innovation, and capacity building in food fortification while providing high quality laboratory testing and technical support to the industrial sector. Vision: To serve as a national "Centre of Excellence" that strengthens the country’s nutritional security and public health protection through the coordinated advancement of food fortification practices.

The primary objectives of the CFQS include: • Research and Development: Fostering high quality research to improve the production of fortified foods and address emerging nutritional challenges. • Quality Assurance: Establishing robust quality control and quality assurance systems to ensure technical specifications of fortified products are met consistently. • Capacity Building: Developing human resources through specialized training for the food industry and regulatory bodies. • Policy Support: Conducting policy research and preparing technical documents to support the amendment of laws and standards related to food fortification. • Entrepreneurship: Supporting start-up businesses and entrepreneurs in the food technology and fortification sectors.

Significant progress was made throughout 2025 in establishing the organizational and policy framework for the Centre: • Formation of Technical Committees: A Technical Assessment Committee (TAC) of 14 members, chaired by the Vice Chancellor of BAU and including GAIN leadership, was formed to oversee the technical assessment and operational setup. • Policy and Feasibility Studies: o Consecutive meetings finalized to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study and engaged a consulting team to lead the research. o A consultation workshop with the University Grants Commission (UGC) secured full institutional support and cooperation for the project. • National Strategic Alignment: o A special meeting (on 4 August 2025) with the Food Fortification Coordination Committee (FFCC) at the Ministry of Industries emphasized the Centre's role in the "Digitization of Fortification of Edible Oil" and confirmed its strategic alignment with national nutrition goals. o A policy workshop (on 13 August 2025) on "Large Scale Food Fortification in Bangladesh" was held with BAU faculty members to integrate academic expertise into the implementation roadmap. • Validation and Dissemination: o A knowledge sharing workshop in September 2025 was conducted with scientists from the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) to broaden the research network. o A final Validation Workshop for the Feasibility Study was held in November 2025 in Dhaka, attended by the representatives from Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI), Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN), World Food Program (WFP) and other international partners. The workshop confirmed that the establishment of the CFQS would be a pivotal step toward modernizing food quality testing in the country.

The CFQS is now positioned as a critical national institution ready to lead the next phase of nutritional security in Bangladesh. Through its partnership with GAIN and the Ministry of Industries, and its foundation at BAU, the Centre provides a comprehensive platform for research, quality testing, and policy guidance to ensure that fortified foods effectively combat malnutrition nationwide.