Entertainment
“I Feel Really Proud to Be Part of Something That Could Make a Difference to India”: Varun Dhawan on His Investment in Better Nutrition
The actor and investor is backing biofortification, an approach that could bring more nutrition to everyday Indian staples, starting with the seed.
This World Food Day, actor and investor Varun Dhawan is championing an idea he believes could make a meaningful difference to India: growing more nutrition into the food people already eat every day.
“I feel really proud to be part of something that could make a difference to India,” says Varun. “When I first learnt about biofortification, I found the idea amazing. What if we could grow more nutrition into the atta, rice and dal we eat every day, right from the seed? I believed in this enough to invest in Better Nutrition and start biofortifying my own farm. Imagine if this could reach millions of Indian homes. I’d be really proud to have played a part in that.”
Varun has invested in Better Nutrition, a biofortified staples brand, and is personally exploring biofortification through his own farm. His latest video aims to help more people understand the science behind the idea and why it matters.
Biofortification works to improve the levels of specific nutrients in crops as they grow. Unlike conventional fortification, which adds nutrients during food processing, it begins with the crop itself. The potential is particularly relevant to staples such as wheat, rice and millets that already feature in everyday diets.
The timing is significant. On World Food Day in 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated 17 biofortified varieties across eight crops to the nation, highlighting their potential contribution to India’s nutritional security.
For Varun, the appeal is simple: people should not necessarily have to change what they eat to explore more nutritious options. Better Nutrition is working to bring biofortified staples such as atta, rice and dals into Indian households through its website and quick-commerce platforms.
This World Food Day, his message is to bring the conversation back to where food begins: the seed, the farm and the nutrition that ultimately reaches our plates.
