Anca-Maria Verma has been appointed as the Ambassador-At-Large for India by the Inter-Governmental Institution for the Use of Micro-Algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition (IIMSAM). Her five year term began on 20 October 2026 and will continue till 19 October 2031. The appointment links India’s continuing fight against malnutrition with IIMSAM’s global mission to promote spirulina, a protein rich micro-algae, as a low cost nutrition tool.
The Appointment: Term and Mandate
The IIMSAM Secretariat issued the appointment through its Secretary-General, H.E. Remigio Maradona. The Office of the Verma Family and IIMSAM jointly announced the decision in New Delhi on 22 October 2026. The term took effect from 20 October 2026 and will end on 19 October 2031, covering a full period of five years.
In this role, Anca-Maria Verma will support IIMSAM’s humanitarian work across India. Her mandate includes building partnerships with institutions, improving cooperation with international partners and bringing together stakeholders to carry forward the nutrition mission. The appointment recognises her past work in philanthropy, culture and social initiatives.
What Is IIMSAM and What Is Its Full Form?
The Inter-Governmental Institution for the Use of Micro-Algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition, known in short as IIMSAM, is an autonomous intergovernmental body that promotes spirulina as a humanitarian tool to fight severe malnutrition, improve food security and support public health under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
IIMSAM was created under the Collaborative Inter-governmental Scientific Research Institute agreement for cooperation in the scientific research and humanitarian use of micro-alga spirulina as food. Its founding treaty was registered under United Nations Treaty Series Nos. 37542 to 37543 dated 12 June 2001, in line with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations. Article 102 requires every international treaty to be registered with the United Nations.
On 5 March 2003, the United Nations Economic and Social Council granted IIMSAM intergovernmental observer status through ECOSOC Resolution 2003/212. The Council functions as the central UN body for economic, social and development work and is headquartered in New York. IIMSAM participates in its work on a continuing basis under Rule 79 of the Council’s rules of procedure. This status places IIMSAM among a small group of around 20 intergovernmental organisations with such continuing observer access.
IIMSAM is led by a Secretary-General, appointed every five years by its General Council of Member States, and works with diplomats, scientists, researchers and goodwill ambassadors. Its field work includes nutrition distribution, education on cultivation and use of spirulina and public health outreach. Since 2009, for example, IIMSAM has supplied spirulina and held training seminars for health institutions, schools and local officials in the Kisumu region of Kenya.
What Does Ambassador-At-Large Mean?
An Ambassador-At-Large is a representative of the highest rank who is not posted to one specific country or embassy but is given a special mission for a region, a theme or an international organisation. The person carries the formal style of His Excellency or Her Excellency under international protocol.
A regular ambassador lives in a host country and represents the sending side before that country’s head of state. An Ambassador-At-Large works across countries or subjects. In the United States system, for instance, the President appoints such envoys for specific issues like religious freedom, cyberspace policy or Arctic affairs. The first official to formally carry this title was appointed on 12 March 1949.
In the IIMSAM system, the title does not mean a diplomatic posting by a national government. It means a senior representative who speaks for IIMSAM’s mission in a country. Anca-Maria Verma will therefore act as IIMSAM’s senior face for India, not as a government diplomat, and her work will focus on partnerships and humanitarian outreach rather than treaty negotiation.
What Is Spirulina and Why Is It Called a Superfood?
Spirulina is a blue green micro-algae that grows in oceans, salty lakes and man made ponds. It belongs to the cyanobacteria group, mainly the species Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima, and is harvested, dried and sold as powder, tablets and capsules for use as food and food supplement.
Spirulina is called a superfood because it packs a very high share of nutrients in a very small quantity. By dry weight, it contains 55 to 70 percent protein with all essential amino acids, along with carbohydrates, essential fatty acids such as gamma linolenic acid, iron, calcium, magnesium, beta carotene, B vitamins and natural pigments like phycocyanin, chlorophyll and carotenoids. Its nutrients are easily absorbed by the body. One tablespoon, about 7 grams, provides around 20 calories and 4 grams of protein. The United States Food and Drug Administration treats spirulina as Generally Recognised as Safe (GRAS), and global food bodies have described it as a highly digestible protein source useful for future food security.
In India, spirulina does not have a separate traditional Hindi name. It is sold and labelled by the transliterated name spirulina, and sometimes explained simply as neel harit kai or blue green algae. Consumers in India buy it mainly as spirulina powder, tablets and capsules. Cultivation needs little land and can use saline or non potable water, which makes it attractive for areas where farming is difficult.
The table below summarises the core profile in simple terms.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Biological group | Blue green micro-algae, cyanobacteria, filamentous and multicellular |
| Main species | Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima |
| Protein content | 55 to 70 percent of dry weight, higher than beef, chicken, fish and soybean on dry basis |
| Other nutrients | Iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, beta carotene, B1, B2, B3, gamma linolenic acid |
| Common forms | Dry powder, tablets, capsules, fortified foods like biscuits, pasta and yoghurt |
| Daily dose in studies | Generally 0.25 gram to 5 grams as supplement, with medical advice for specific groups |
Research studies point to antioxidant, anti inflammatory and immune supporting properties, along with possible benefits for anaemia, blood lipids, blood sugar and weight control when combined with balanced diet and exercise. Scientists also caution that evidence is still developing, products must be tested for contamination with heavy metals or microbes, and people with autoimmune conditions, clotting disorders or phenylketonuria should take medical advice before use.
Malnutrition in India: The Challenge IIMSAM Addresses
India continues to face a large burden of child undernutrition even after steady gains over three decades. Undernutrition in children is measured through three standard signs. Stunting means low height for age and shows long term poor nutrition. Wasting means low weight for height and shows short term severe food shortage. Underweight means low weight for age and reflects both.
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS), conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, tracks these signs every few years. The latest round, NFHS-6 covering 2023 to 2024, found 29.3 percent stunting, 19 percent wasting and 31.8 percent underweight among children below five years. Stunting has fallen clearly from 35.5 percent in NFHS-5 (2019 to 2021) and 38.4 percent in NFHS-4 (2015 to 2016). Severe wasting fell from 7.7 percent to 5.2 percent. But overall wasting and underweight have moved only slightly, which means nearly one in five children remains acutely malnourished and nearly one in three remains underweight. Anaemia remains high, with 67.1 percent of children aged 6 to 59 months affected in NFHS-5, and 57 percent of women aged 15 to 49 years affected.
| Survey round | Stunting | Wasting | Underweight |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFHS-4 (2015 to 2016) | 38.4 percent | 21 percent | 35.8 percent |
| NFHS-5 (2019 to 2021) | 35.5 percent | 19.3 percent | 32.1 percent |
| NFHS-6 (2023 to 2024) | 29.3 percent | 19 percent | 31.8 percent |
State gaps remain wide. Kerala records stunting of about 20.1 percent, while Bihar and Jharkhand record levels above 35 percent. Only 15.3 percent of children aged 6 to 23 months receive a fully adequate diet, which shows why low cost protein and micronutrient sources matter.
The central response is Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, a centrally sponsored scheme under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. It provides hot cooked meals and take home ration under the norms of the National Food Security Act, 2013, extra ration for severely acute malnourished children, growth monitoring with standard devices at nearly 14 lakh anganwadi centres, home visits by anganwadi workers and nutri gardens called Poshan Vatikas for diet diversity. The Poshan Tracker application records attendance, meals, growth data and nutrition outcomes in near real time. It is in this setting that IIMSAM presents spirulina as an additional tool that is cheap, easy to store and quick to deploy alongside ongoing feeding, health and sanitation efforts.
About Anca-Maria Verma
Anca-Maria Verma, born Anca Maria Neacsu on 8 August 1987 in Galati, Romania, is an entrepreneur and philanthropist based in New Delhi. She studied at the University of Galati and earlier worked in modelling and with Atlas Telecom Network Romania. After her marriage to industrialist Abhishek Verma in 2006, she joined the leadership of family businesses, including as Chairperson of the consumer goods company Olialia World.
She serves as Managing Trustee of the Shrikant Verma Trust and is associated with the Veena Verma Foundation. Her public work focuses on philanthropic, cultural and social initiatives. In October 2026, she was also honoured with the Honour of Ashoka Award 2026 in New Delhi for work linked to humanitarian service and nutrition awareness.
Key Takeaways
- Anca-Maria Verma was appointed Ambassador-At-Large for India by IIMSAM for a term from 20 October 2026 to 19 October 2031.
- IIMSAM stands for the Inter-Governmental Institution for the Use of Micro-Algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition and holds Permanent Observer status with UN ECOSOC under Resolution 2003/212 dated 5 March 2003.
- IIMSAM’s founding treaty is registered under UN Treaty Series Nos. 37542 to 37543 dated 12 June 2001 and its Secretary-General is H.E. Remigio Maradona.
- Spirulina is a blue green micro-algae of the Arthrospira group containing 55 to 70 percent protein by dry weight and is sold as powder, tablets and capsules.
- NFHS-6 (2023 to 2024) recorded 29.3 percent stunting, 19 percent wasting and 31.8 percent underweight among children below five years in India.
