DSM has announced that DSM CEO Feike Sijbesma is to receive the prestigious 2010 Humanitarian of the Year Award from the United Nations Association of New York for his outstanding commitment to corporate social responsibility and in particular for DSM's partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

DSM has been active in helping to make progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). By partnering with the UN-WFP, DSM has made a commitment to fight hunger and malnutrition around the world and has been raising awareness of the pressing issue of malnutrition - also known as hidden hunger. DSM provides not only products but especially technical and scientific expertise and has developed tailored nutritional solutions that are specifically designed to meet the nutritional requirements of those in the developing world.

Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations conveyed his appreciation of Royal DSM's work and commitment to support the goals of the UN. The Secretary General is expected to attend the ceremony and gala dinner on Oct. 21.

Sijbesma reacted: "It is an honor to receive this award as an acknowledgement of DSM's commitment to addressing the issue of hidden hunger. For me this award is given to all employees of DSM worldwide who are inspired and motivated to contribute to helping those people in the world who need our help urgently. At DSM we feel that it is our responsibility to raise awareness of and find solutions for nutrition security in order to improve the lives of millions of people in need and mobilize individuals, organizations and businesses around the world to act."

Over the past years, DSM has maintained a strategic partnership with the WFP to address the problems of malnutrition in the developing world. The partnership, "Improving Nutrition- Improving Lives" is a program that has to date helped approximately 2 million people across Nepal, Kenya, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and other countries to enrich their lives through proper nutrition.

DSM has extended its partnership with WFP and will continue to provide ongoing technical and scientific support to the organization, supply food fortificants and speciality nutrition products, and will work with WFP as it develops and rolls out country-specific nutrition strategies. The partnership aims to include micronutrients for at least 80% of WFP's beneficiaries.

DSM has developed in the partnership with WFP, amongst others a new nutritional rich blend (provided in sachets which can be sprinkled over foods; so-called MixMe). Also DSM's vitamin enriched NutriRice will contribute to this program.

Feike Sijbesma will receive the award at the 2010 Humanitarian Awards dinner, celebrating the 65th Anniversary of United Nations honoring Global Partnerships, in New York on Oct. 21.

Previous recipients of the award include: Ban Ki-Moon (secretary general of the United Nations); Kofi Annan (former secretary general of the United Nations); Mary Robinson (former president of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights); Anne M. Veneman (UNICEF executive director); Sadayuki Sakakibara (president, Toray Industries); and Antony Burgmans (former chairman, Unilever).