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Biofortification: Delivering Naturally Enriched Food Crops

Going the Last Mile: Accelerating Progress in Food Security and Nutrition

Brussels, 14 June 2016Howarth E. Bouis, PhDDirector, HarvestPlus

Copyright: Micronutrient InitiativeWhy are Mineral and Vitamin Deficiencies Such A Significant Public Health Problem?

Dietary Diversity

How Biofortification Works

• Using conventional breeding, researchers develop new varieties with high yields and greater nutrient density, then transfer them to countries’agricultural research services.

• Testing in different terrain, soils, climates; release of best varieties by varietal release committees.

• Deliver to farmers.• Value proposition to mothers – same price but protect family from nutrient deficiencies.

Biofortification: the Evidence

• Conventional crop breeding increases nutrient levels without reducing yields.

• Extra nutrients in crops, even after processing and cooking, improve micronutrient status.

• Farmers are growing and eating biofortified crops, and consumers are buying them.

• Biofortification is cost-effective: centralized investment; niche is reaching rural poor

CassavaVitamin ANigeriaDR Congo

BeansIron (Zinc)RwandaDR Congo

MaizeVitamin ANigeriaZambia

Crops Released: Africa

Crops are high-yielding & resistant to pests, disease, climate

Sweet PotatoVitamin AUganda

2007

2011

2012

2012

Pearl MilletIron (Zinc)India

RiceZincBangladeshIndia

WheatZincIndiaPakistan(2016)

2012

2013

2013

Crops Released: Asia

Crops are high-yielding & resistant to pests, disease, climate

Biofortification: Global Momentum

Biofortified crops released in 30 countries; in testing in 54 countries

Vitamin A OSP Reduces Diarrhea

• Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of death in children < 5 in developing countries.

• Eating orange sweet potato (OSP) reduces the incidence and duration of diarrhea in children. – For children < 3 likelihood of developing

diarrhea was reduced by more than 50% and duration of diarrhea reduced by more than 25%.

– For children < 5 likelihood of developing diarrhea was reduced by more than 40% and duration of diarrhea reduced by more than 10%.

• Lack of iron impairs mental development and learning capacity, and increases weakness and fatigue.

• A new study found that iron pearl millet was able to reverse iron deficiency in children aged 12-16 years in India within six months.

Iron Pearl Millet Reverses Iron Deficiency

Partners Throughout the Value Chain

• Seed companies (Nirmal in India) • International NGOs (World Vision) • Regional frameworks (African Union) • National governments (Brazil, China, India)• International financial institutions (World Bank, IFAD)• Multi-lateral agencies (World Food Program, Codex)

Mainstreaming Through Key Stakeholders

Two Ways of WorkingNine Target CountriesPartnership Countries

Generating Demand

The 3rd Global Conference on Biofortification

• New Delhi, India: 10-12 April 2017• 400+ leaders from many countries and sectors• Purpose:

Reaching One Billion: Galvanize collective responsibility by the global community to scale up biofortification by 2030 to help reach SDG 2

Identify key challenges to mainstreaming biofortified foods and opportunities to address them; develop action plan

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Thank you for your support!

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