5th Global Conference: CONNECTED​

The COVID-19 global pandemic has meant a physical conference in Bangkok is no longer possible. We are announcing that the 5th Global Conference will now be virtual and CONNECTED.

CONNECTED means both the digital nature of the event and the chance to collaborate and connect on the conference digital platform. We plan to make this one of the best virtual events with the same strong programming, engaged attendees and interactive opportunities.

• A combination of live and on-demand sessions
• Live, virtual opening ceremony on November 9, 2020
• Conference programming delivered over a longer period of time
• Opportunities for virtual interaction among delegates, sponsors and speakers
• Live Q&As with speakers
• Facilitated discussions
• Strong regional Asian programming that honours the work that our Local Organizing Committee prepared when the conference was planned for Bangkok 

Description
Micronutrients are at the heart of the potential of food systems to deliver optimal health. Food systems are at the heart of determining what people eat. The Micronutrient Forum 5th Global Conference will cover the broad spectrum of micronutrients – research, efficacy and safety, implementation and the policy and enabling environment. In addition, the conference will take a deep dive into how micronutrients might be optimized and protected within food systems.The Micronutrient Forum is striving to ensure greater participation from the agriculture, manufacturing, processing and distribution, retail and culinary sectors, to widen the conversation and drive multi-sectoral innovation towards sustainable solutions. The Micronutrient Forum 5th Conference provides the opportunity for sharing new micronutrient research with a diverse audience across four focused tracks.

Track One: Micronutrient Biology and Status Assessment

Objective: The biology of micronutrient nutrition and status assessment.

Topics

• Benchmarks, methods and metrics for improving the food systems and micronutrient delivery.
• Absorption, metabolism and interaction of micronutrients.
• Micronutrients and the double burden of noncommunicable diseases.
• Effects of genetics, infection/inflammation, and other environmental exposures, on micronutrient deficiencies.
• Innovations and updates in assessment of micronutrient status: epidemiology and global prevalence of the micronutrient deficiencies.
• Innovative technologies for micronutrient delivery.

Track Two: Efficacy and Safety of Micronutrient Interventions

Objective: The efficacy and safety of micronutrient interventions on micronutrient intake, status and related functional outcomes.

Topics

• Efficacy and effectiveness of food system value chain interventions.
• The implications of climate change on micronutrient status.
• Agricultural interventions and micronutrient status/intakes.
• Multiple micronutrient powdersand reduction of anemia prevalence.
• Effectiveness of food fortification.
• Impact of interventions on micronutrient status and functional outcomes.
• Dosage, duration and frequency of additional micronutrient delivery throughout the lifecycle.
• Safety considerations of implementing concurrent micronutrient interventions.

Track Three: Program Effectiveness

Objective: Bridging the gap between evidence and implementation to optimize the scale-up of micronutrient interventions.

Topics

• Dietary patterns, nutrient intakes, and food safety.
• Advances in large scale food fortification.
• Filling gaps in micronutrient data: Use of modeling tools and dietary data for program decisions.
• Frameworks and tools for successful program design and implementation.
• Experiences from implementation science.
• Innovative program or delivery models, including multi-sectoral interventions.
• Monitoring, surveillance, and evaluation for program improvement.
• Experiences and lessons learned from country programs.

Track Four: Designing Enabling Environments for Micronutrients

Objective: Engaging new actors and building new alliances, and expanding the field of view to include global, regional and national policy considerations, financing, innovative partnerships, climate change, communications, social marketing and advocacy.

Topics

• Value propositions across the value chain.
• Market shaping for micronutrients.
• Solutions to engagement with the private sector to invest and support high quality foods.
• Rethinking the investment case.
• Multisectoral engagement to make food systems deliver on nutrition.
• Cost-effectiveness of delivering micronutrient interventions at scale.
• Effective and responsible policies, programs and business models.
• Creating and sustaining effective leadership, communication, capacity development and advocacy.