The Global Nutrition Report (GNR) and The Indian Nutrition Initiative (TINI) – an initiative of Tata Trusts – organize the online launch of the 2020 Global Nutrition Report on May 12, 2020. The GNR highlights how  food systems everywhere must become equitable, nutritious, efficient and inclusive. Now more than ever action is needed since COVID-19 exposes vulnerability and weaknesses of already fragile food systems.

The Global Nutrition Report (GNR) and the Indian Nutrition Initiative (TINI) – an initiative of Tata Trusts – organize the online launch of the 2020 GNR on May 12, 2020 at 13:00 BST (14:00 in the Netherlands).

As ever, 2020 GNR presents the most comprehensive picture of the state of nutrition at the global, regional and country level, and tracks progress against global nutrition targets and the commitments made to reach them. Uniquely, the 2020 report focuses on equity and unpacks the role of inequities in tackling malnutrition. It does this in recognition of the ways in which malnutrition affects different people in different ways, depending on factors such as income, location, sex and age. Through this lens, the 2020 GNR reveals the challenges and opportunities for improving nutrition outcomes through food and health systems, supported by strong financing and accountability.

The online launch will provide the opportunity to present the key findings of the 2020 GNR and reflect on the current crisis and its impact on a world already affected by the double burden of malnutrition. India is a country that knows all too well the impact of inequities on nutrition. Yet despite facing multiple burdens, it continues to strive towards progress and an India free from all forms of malnutrition. Building on India’s commitment to improve nutrition outcomes, and in collaboration with TINI, the 2020 GNR will provide an overview of the global burden of malnutrition while also shining a light on examples of progress and pinpointing where action is urgently needed.

Programme

The webinar will be facilitated by Rini Simon Khanna, an Indian news anchor with a career that spans more than three decades. She began producing programmes and hosting interviews on India’s National Radio at 13 and was soon selected to read the news on All India Radio. She was later handpicked to anchor the national news on Delhi Doordarshan, the premier Indian television channel. In addition to presenting the news, Khanna is an experienced voiceover artist for documentaries, adverts and feature films. Her portfolio includes MTNL, American Express and Airtel.

Please note that this webinar can be attended by maximum 500 participants and is already at full capacity.

Keynote addresses

The event will kick off with keynote speeches by esteemed guests, Gerda Verburg and Professor K. Srinath Reddy.

Gerda Verburg − UN Assistant Secretary General and SUN Movement Coordinator
Since August 2016, Gerda Verburg has served as UN Assistant Secretary General and Coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement. In 2008, Ms. Verburg was elected as Chair of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 17). This followed her appointment as Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in the Netherlands in 2007. From 2011, she served as Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the United Nations’ Rome based agencies (FAO, IFAD and WFP). In 2013, she was elected as Chair of the UN Committee on World Food Security, and in 2014 she served as Chair of the Agenda Council for Food and Nutrition of the World Economic Forum.

Professor K. Srinath Reddy – President, Public Health Foundation of India
Prof. Reddy is President of Public Health Foundation of India. Previously, he headed the Department of Cardiology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences. He was appointed as the First Bernard Lown Visiting Professor of Cardiovascular Health at the Harvard School of Public Health in (2009–2013) and currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at Harvard (2014–2023). In March 2017, he was also appointed as Advisor on Health to the government of Odisha, in the capacity of Cabinet Minister.

GNR speakers

The GNR IEG Co-chairs, Renata Micha and Venkatesh Mannar, will then present the key findings of the 2020 GNR.

Dr Renata Micha – Co-chair, Independent Expert Group
Dr Micha is Research Associate Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. She is a registered clinical dietician, public health nutritionist and epidemiologist whose research focuses on the effects of diet on health, and on population strategies to improve diet. She is also Senior Investigator on the Global Dietary Database. Dr Micha has also been instrumental in establishing and coordinating the work of the Food Policy Review and Intervention Cost-Effectiveness initiative. As part of this initiative, she leads and guides components relating to modelling the health and economic impact of food policies to improve diet and health in the US.

Prof. M.G. Venkatesh Mannar – Co-chair, Independent Expert Group
Prof. Mannar has pioneered effective nutrition initiatives focused on the world’s most vulnerable citizens. He currently serves as a Special Adviser on Nutrition to the Tata Trusts and The Tata Cornell Agriculture & Nutrition Initiative. Mannar has co-authored over 100 articles in leading nutrition journals and is the co-editor of Food Fortification in a Globalized World. He has also co-developed cutting-edge technologies to enhance the nutritional quality of foods. Before undertaking these roles, Mannar was President of the Micronutrient Initiative Canada for almost 20 years, playing a key role in developing and expanding health and nutrition programmes to address hidden hunger globally.

Panellists

Following a panel discussion, there will be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions. Panellists include:

Johanna Ralston − CEO, World Obesity Federation
Johanna Ralston has worked in the field of global noncommunicable diseases (NCD) and their risk factors for over two decades. She has served as CEO of World Obesity Federation since 2017. Between 2011 and 2016, Johanna served as CEO of World Heart Federation. Johanna also served as Vice Chair, Steering Group Member and Interim Director of NCD Alliance during that period and led the communications strategy for the 2011 UN High-Level Meeting.

Alok Kumar − Senior Advisor, NITI Aayog
Alok Kumar is currently Senior Advisor in the Indian government think tank, NITI Aayog, where he oversees the social sector and manages various portfolios, including health, nutrition, women and children, and education. Prior to this, he worked in the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. His major assignments have included the post of Secretary to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Managing Director of State Industrial Development Corporation.