This is a call for transformative innovation. The Gates Foundation ‘Accelerating Development of Innovative, Exceptionally Low-Cost Maternal and Child Nutrient Ingredients and Products’ Challenge seek solutions that ensure every mother and child – regardless of where they live – can access the essential nutrients to survive and thrive.
Background
Malnutrition remains one of the most urgent and pervasive threats to maternal, newborn, and child health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It contributes to nearly half of all under-five child deaths and is a significant driver of maternal and child morbidity and mortality. During the first 1,000 days of a child’s life (from conception to a child’s second birthday), nutritional deficiencies can cause irreversible physical and cognitive impairments, limiting educational attainment, economic productivity, and lifelong health. In LMICs, where poverty, limited health services, and food insecurity intersect, the burden of malnutrition disproportionately affects the most vulnerable populations, exacerbating inequities and hindering progress toward global development goals.
Targeted interventions that improve maternal nutrition before and during pregnancy are essential for breaking this cycle.
The Challenge
High input costs, complex production processes, and limited manufacturing capacity in LMICs keep the price of essential nutrient ingredients and products prohibitively high. As a result, millions of women and children cannot access proven, lifesaving interventions.
At the same time, there is a clear opportunity: innovations across the entire product lifecycle – raw material sourcing, ingredient formulation, manufacturing methods, and packaging – can dramatically lower costs while maintaining quality. Advances in biotechnology, materials science, food technology, and other industries provide models that could be adapted to nutrition.
The Gates Foundation ‘Accelerating Development of Innovative, Exceptionally Low-Cost Maternal and Child Nutrient Ingredients and Products’ Challenge is not seeking incremental improvements. This call is for transformative, bold solutions that can reduce costs by at least 50% compared to current baselines, while maintaining or improving safety, efficacy, and user acceptability. They want to support the development and validation of scalable, sustainable strategies that make high-quality nutrient ingredients and products affordable for LMIC health systems and ensure equitable access for every mother and child.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Application deadline:Â December 16, 2025Â – 11:30 AM Pacific Time