BASF, Teck partnership for zinc deficiency reduction

Kurt Bock, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, BASF.

DAVOS, SWITZERLAND: BASF and Teck Resources Ltd announced that they have signed a three year agreement to jointly develop innovative and affordable zinc fortification and supplementation solutions, with the goal of reducing zinc deficiency among 100 million people in developing countries by 2015. According to the World Health Organization, zinc deficiency is one of the leading risk factors associated with diseases such as diarrhea, contributing to the deaths of 800,000 people each year. Zinc is an essential micronutrient for all living organisms that protects the body from illness and helps fight infections, yet two billion people around the world are not getting enough zinc through their diet.

Through this agreement, BASF and Teck aim to make safe and cost-effective high-quality zinc solutions available to populations at risk of zinc deficiency in developing countries. Zinc from Teck’s Trail Operations will be turned into high grade zinc oxide by GH Chemicals in Montreal, Canada, which BASF will use to make food fortification supplements. The collaboration forms part of the United Nations Global Compact, aiming to demonstrate leadership in UN-Business partnerships. “Providing healthy food and nutrition to a growing world population is one of the major challenges of the future. Together with its customers and partners such as Teck, BASF contributes to the development of innovative, sustainable solutions,” said Kurt Bock, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, BASF.

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