Rice fortification technology is now more affordable for rice millers with the low-cost blending machine designed by the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) in partnership with HDN Technologies, an equipment fabricator.

This is in line with the Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000 or RA 8976 which mandates rice fortification with iron to address the problem of anemia mostly due to iron deficiency anemia. About 11.1 % of the Filipino population is anemic according to the DOST-FNRI 2013 National Nutrition Survey.

The blending machine is a vital equipment used in rice fortification. It blends the iron rice premix with ordinary rice without damaging the grains and achieving uniformity even in higher capacity.

Compared to other machines which cost from P350,000.00 to P700,000.00, said DOST-FNRI-designed blending machine costs approximately P250,000.00 only. Aside from savings, it is more stable, robust, compact, works in bigger capacity and less prone to breakage.

By just adding P2.00 to P3.00 per kilogram (kg) to the price of ordinary rice available in the market, a consumer can now have iron-fortified rice.

Prospective adaptors, particularly, rice millers, can send a letter of intent to DOST-FNRI Director, Dr. Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa. Approximately P500,000.00 additional investment covering equipment and raw materials are needed to start production of iron-fortified rice.### John Nestor Ballad

Sources:
https://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph

https://www.who.int/elena/titles/rice_fortification/en/#:~:text=Fortification%20is%20the%20practice%20of,with%20minimal%20risk%20to%20health.