Improving nutrition through biofortification: A review of evidence from HarvestPlus, 2003 through 2016
This review summarises evidence and delivery experiences, as well as farmer and consumer adoption
Abstract
Bioforti铿乧ation is a feasible and cost-e铿�ective means of delivering micronutrients to populations that may have limited access to diverse diets and other micronutrient interventions. Since 2003, HarvestPlus and its partners have demonstrated that this agriculture-based method of addressing micronutrient de铿乧iency through plant breeding works. More than 20 million people in farm households in developing countries are now growing and consuming bioforti铿乪d crops.
This review summarises evidence and discusses delivery experiences, as well as farmer and consumer adoption. Given the strength of the evidence, attention should now shift to an actionoriented agenda for scaling bioforti铿乧ation to improve nutrition globally. To reach one billion people by 2030, there are 3 key challenges:
- mainstreaming bioforti铿乪d traits into public plant breeding programs
- building consumer demand
- integrating bioforti铿乧ation into public and private policies, programs, and investments. While many building blocks are in place, institutional leadership is needed to continue to drive towards this ambitious goal.
This work is an output of the HarvestPlus Programme. The Department for International Development is one of the main donors for HarvestPlus.
Citation
Bouis, Howarth E. and Amy Saltzman. 2017. 鈥淚mproving nutrition through biofortification: A review of evidence from HarvestPlus, 2003 through 2016.鈥� Global Food Security 12 (March 2017): 49-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2017.01.009.