Zero Hidden Hunger EU

What Zero Hidden Hunger EU does

Zero Hidden Hunger EU is a Horizon Europe funded research consortium (Grant Agreement No. 101137127) launched in February 2024 that runs for four years through 2027. Coordinated jointly by Professors Mairead Kiely and Kevin Cashman at University College Cork's School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, the project brings together 19 partner organizations from 12 European countries spanning universities (UCC, DTU, Wageningen, Max Rubner-Institut), research institutes (Quadram Institute Bioscience, IARC), non-profit organizations (EUFIC as data controller, EPHA leading the Policy Lab, EuroFIR AISBL), and private sector entities, with co-funding from UK Research and Innovation and the Swiss Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation.

The project's core technology combines high-throughput biomarker analysis with advanced data analytical and dietary modelling techniques to measure micronutrient deficiency prevalence across European populations. Its technical stack includes capillary blood self-sampling for biomarker measurement, novel bioavailable iron and zinc modelling algorithms, and metabolomics-based calcium biomarker discovery. Work is organized around four pillars: (1) micronutrient biomarkers and surveillance, (2) true prevalence estimation of combined deficiencies and associated economic burden, (3) food-focused eradication strategies, and (4) impact communication. Quantitative outputs target first-ever Europe-wide estimates of combined micronutrient deficiency prevalence and economic cost, building on 22 EU menu datasets from EFSA plus cohort data from UK biobanks and additional data from Spain and Greece.

The business model is entirely grant-funded with no commercial revenue stream. Primary deliverables are public-good research outputs (scientific publications, factsheets, project reports, policy recommendations), educational resources (a multilingual Micronutrient Quiz, pregnancy nutrition leaflets, an EU Dietary Guidelines Database covering 36 national guidelines), and the Policy Lab initiative that co-creates food-system solutions with European policymakers. Customer-facing engagement is conducted through surveys and focus groups with vulnerable populations in Italy, Poland, and Hungary (planned: 68 focus group participants, 1,500 survey participants), with EUFIC serving as data controller and handling communications, GDPR-compliant data storage on French servers through project end (31 December 2027).

Name

Zero Hidden Hunger EU

Legal name

Zero Hidden Hunger EU

Website

https://zerohiddenhunger.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Zero Hidden Hunger EU is a Horizon Europe funded research consortium of 19 partners across 12 countries that generates evidence on micronutrient deficiency prevalence and costs in Europe to inform food-focused policy and public health interventions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Nutrition Research

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Nutrition-Specific Interventions (Micronutrients, Supplementation, Fortification) (BPADAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nutrition Surveillance, Assessments & Early Warning Systems (BPADAJAF), Nutrition Policy, Dietary Guidelines & Fortification Programs (HLAJAEAC), Nutrition & Population Health Integration (MCH Nutrition, Micronutrients) (BPADAIAF), Agriculture, Food Security & Nutrition Technical Assistance (BPADAEAG)

Keywords

• Public health nutrition
• Micronutrient deficiency research
• Food fortification policy
• Biomarker surveillance
• Nutrition research consortium

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Horizon Europe Research Grant: The project is funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme (Grant Agreement No. 101137127), with additional co-funding from UK Research and Innovation and the Swiss Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation. The project runs for 4 years (2024-2027).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zero Hidden Hunger EU is a Horizon Europe-funded research consortium (Grant Agreement No. 101137127) that investigates micronutrient deficiencies ("hidden hunger") across Europe. Coordinated by University College Cork (Ireland) with 19 partners from 12 European countries, the four-year project (2024-2027) delivers evidence on deficiency prevalence and societal costs, develops food-focused eradication strategies including fortification and biofortification, and translates findings into policy recommendations through a dedicated Policy Lab and stakeholder communication activities. The work is co-funded by UK Research and Innovation and Swiss SERI.

Product overview

Zero Hidden Hunger EU is a Horizon Europe funded research project (not a commercial product) focused on providing estimates of micronutrient deficiency prevalence and associated health costs across Europe. The project operates through four interconnected pillars: Micronutrient biomarkers and surveillance, True prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in Europe and associated costs, Eradication of micronutrient deficiency, and Impact and communication. The primary offerings are research outputs including scientific publications, factsheets, project reports, and graphic materials, complemented by public-facing educational resources such as the Micronutrient Quiz (available in English and French), Policy Lab initiative for stakeholder engagement, EU Dietary Guidelines database, multilingual leaflets, and participation in various webinars and events. The consortium brings together 19 partners from 12 European countries including universities, research centers, NGOs, and private sector organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Biomarkers and Surveillance Research Service Research service delivering biomarker-based surveillance methodologies for measuring micronutrient status in European populations, intended for use by public health agencies, researchers, and policymakers. Activities cover nutrient-status assays, metabolomics, and population surveillance design.
• Prevalence and Cost Assessment Service Analytical service that models the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies and quantifies associated health and societal costs at European and national level, for use by EU institutions, ministries, and public health bodies.
• Food-Focused Eradication Strategies Service Research and advisory service developing evidence-based food-focused interventions such as fortification, biofortification, and dietary diversification, targeted at food manufacturers, agricultural stakeholders, and public health policymakers seeking to address hidden hunger in Europe.
• Policy Lab and Impact Communication Service Policy translation and communication service operating through a dedicated Policy Lab, providing evidence-based recommendations, newsletters, stakeholder engagement, and dissemination outputs to European and national policymakers and the wider public.

Quantifiable outcome

• First-ever estimates of economic burden of combined micronutrient deficiencies for Europe
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• University College Cork (UCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Project coordinator. Hosted kickoff meeting in Brussels (February 2024). Cork Centre for Vitamin D and Nutrition Research led by Prof Kevin Cashman and Prof Mairead Kiely manages project coordination, vitamin D mass spectrometry, micronutrient intakes analysis, and data management.
• EUFIC (European Food Information Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerData controller for personal data processing. Handles project communication, content creation, and dissemination. Contact: Debora Serra ([email protected]). Data stored on password-protected server in France.
• EPHA (European Public Health Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads the Policy Lab initiative to engage European policymakers. Dr. Alessandro Gallina serves as Senior Policy Manager. Coordinates co-creation of policy solutions with policymakers, experts, and stakeholders.
• Quadram Institute BiosciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood and Nutrition National Bioscience Research Infrastructure (FN-NBRI) based in Norwich, UK. Conducts modelling of bioavailable iron and zinc intake from UK and European population data. Led by Dr Maria Traka.
• IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted second annual meeting in Lyon (March 2025) at IARC headquarters. Part of the consortium conducting research on micronutrient deficiencies.
• DTU (Technical University of Denmark)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted third annual meeting in March 2026 at Lyngby campus. Contributing to project research activities and consortium meetings.
• EuroFIR AISBLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted kickoff meeting in Brussels (February 2024). Contributed to Nutrition Society Congress 2024 session on micronutrient deficiency and protein quality. Represented by Siân Astley.
• Swiss Nutrition and Health Foundation (SNHf)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributes research on micronutrient deficiencies, sustainable dietary patterns, and nutritional psychiatry. Led by Serge Rezzi, PhD.
• Institute for Medical Research (IMR) SerbiasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Jelena Milešević presented on hidden hunger at Serbian Academy of Science and Art. Dr. Bogdana Simonović presented at International Food Data Conference on updating Serbian food composition database.
• Wageningen UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributed expertise on protein quality in European diets at Nutrition Society Congress 2024. Hosted 'Exposure Assessment in Nutrition Research' course (August 2024). Represented by Sander Biesbroek.
• Max Rubner-InstitutsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnja Feiß presented Zero Hidden Hunger EU project during German Malnutrition Awareness Week 2024 webinar.
• European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)supportingOthersSets Dietary Reference Values (DRVs) used across Europe for food policies, nutrition labels, and dietary advice. EFSA's framework guides project research parameters.
• Sense About SciencesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHost of Evidence Week 2025 in London. Partnership with Quadram Institute for session on Micronutrient Malnutrition highlighting hidden hunger research.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• UNICEF Nutrition Programme: Large-scale UN program addressing maternal and child micronutrient malnutrition globally, including supplementation and fortification. Shares ZHH EU's vulnerable-population focus (pregnant women, children) but with much broader geographic scope and intervention mandate.
• ILSI Europe: Industry-funded scientific organization that commissions and disseminates nutrition and food safety research across Europe. Overlaps with ZHH EU on nutrition science agenda-setting, but with a private-sector funding model and broader food-safety scope.
• WHO Department of Nutrition and Food Safety: Sets global normative guidance on micronutrient intake and deficiency. Comparable in setting evidence-based dietary guidance that ZHH EU aims to inform at the European level, but operates at a far larger global scale.
• dsm-firmenich (Nutritional Solutions): Global ingredients leader in vitamins, micronutrients, and food fortification premixes. Represents the private-sector fortification counterparty whose adoption ZHH EU's policy work could influence across European food manufacturers.

Others

• European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): EU agency setting Dietary Reference Values that anchor nutrition labelling and fortification policy across Europe — ZHH EU explicitly uses EFSA's framework. Comparable regulatory/policy-setting role rather than research delivery.
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation — Nutrition: Major philanthropic funder of global micronutrient deficiency research and intervention programs. Comparable in shaping the micronutrient research agenda and funding large multi-country studies, though oriented globally rather than to Europe.

Direct peers

• Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN): Global alliance working to reduce malnutrition through food fortification, public-private partnerships, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable to Zero Hidden Hunger EU in mission to address hidden hunger, with a broader global remit and a portfolio of intervention programs alongside research.
• HarvestPlus: Alliance leading biofortification of staple crops to address micronutrient deficiencies (especially iron, zinc, vitamin A). Closely mirrors ZHH EU's focus on micronutrient adequacy through food-based solutions, though HarvestPlus emphasizes crop breeding rather than dietary surveillance.
• Sight and Life: Nutrition think tank and foundation focused on micronutrient deficiency elimination, particularly in low- and middle-income populations. Comparable mission and stakeholder model, with stronger emphasis on vitamin A and global health while ZHH EU focuses on European populations.

Emerging players

• IZiNCG (International Zinc Nutrition Consultative Group): International scientific group focused on zinc deficiency assessment, including zinc bioavailability methodology — directly overlapping with ZHH EU's bioavailable iron and zinc modelling work at Quadram Institute.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ZeroHiddenHungerEU
• Xtwitter.com/ZHH_EU
• Instagraminstagram.com/zerohiddenhungereu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zero-hidden-hunger-eu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@zerohiddenhungereu

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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