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CLEVELAND, July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NineSigma, Inc., the leading innovation partner to organizations worldwide, today announced it is helping Scientists Without Borders(SM), in partnership with The Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science at the New York Academy of Sciences, and DSM's nutrition think tank, Sight and Life, to find more sustainable packaging for micronutrient powders (MNPs).
Scientists Without Borders and its partners have issued a challenge on NineSights™, NineSigma's new open innovation social media platform. The organization will provide a reward of up to $25,000 for novel, feasible, and cost-effective sustainable packaging ideas, or new methods of MNP delivery. MNPs are small sachets of essential vitamins and minerals and one of the most widely-distributed and cost-effective nutrition interventions in resource-poor settings.
They target the problem of "hidden hunger," the deficiency of essential micronutrients, like Vitamin A, zinc, and iron, which leads to developmental problems in children and chronic disease. The current packaging is composed of aluminum, PET, and polyethylene, surrounding one gram of powdered vitamins and minerals. Although the packaging protects the powder from degradation, it is difficult to recycle, destroy, or repurpose.
Through NineSights, Scientists Without Borders and its partners are challenging small businesses, researchers, inventors, and others worldwide to provide solutions, technologies and ideas. The challenge is currently featured in a gallery on NineSights moderated by Dr. Al Malouf, NineSigma Senior Program Manager.
"Micronutrient supplementation is one of the best ways to improve human health and well-being, and finding effective solutions to this challenge will require many new ideas from diverse perspectives. Through NineSigma's proven technology search process and vast technic
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