[4] In 1990, leaders attending the World Summit for Children set the goal of virtually eliminating micronutrient deficiencies.

[5] In 1992, Micronutrient Initiative was established as a secretariat within the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, to support progress toward that goal.

Until 2000, MI was governed by a steering committee composed of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the IDRC, UNICEF, The World Bank, and USAID.

[9] The organization advocates for, and provides funding and technical assistance for salt iodisation, the distribution of multi-micronutrient powders, the fortification of staple foods such as wheat flour with vitamin A, iron and folic acid, and dietary supplementation with vitamin A, iron, zinc, and folic acid.

In addition to its headquarters in Ottawa, the organization has offices in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Pakistan.