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BookletBiofortification: a food-systems solution to help end hidden hunger 2019
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No results found.The brief builds on existing and previous collaborations between FAO and HarvestPlus to deploy biofortification to create healthier food systems. It shares practical guidance on successfully integrating biofortification into policies and programs aimed at addressing malnutrition. The brief also identifies types of policies to target, recommends specific actions (such as support for strengthening of crop breeding programs or strengthening systems for multiplying and marketing seed and planting material), and also includes guidance for decisionmakers on the costs of implementing biofortification. The brief concisely summarizes a wealth of essential information, including:- Availability, agronomic, and nutritional properties of biofortified crops worldwide;
- Evidence on farmer adoption and consumer acceptance, the nutrition and health benefits, and the cost-effectiveness of biofortified foods;
- Figures on the number of people growing and benefiting from biofortified crops;
- Answers to frequently-asked questions about biofortification.
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DocumentLinking Agricultural Production Practices to Improving Human Nutrition and Health 2013
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No results found.Dysfunctional food systems, never designed to improve human nutrition and health, are the basis of malnutrition in many poverty stricken human populations. Notably, all food systems are dependent on agricultural systems as the primary source of nutrients entering food systems. Thus, agricultural systems must play a major role in the development of malnutrition globally. If the products produced from farming systems cannot provide all the nutrients (excluding water) required for human life, malnu trition results causing increases in morbidity and mortality rates, losses in worker productivity and stagnation of development efforts in those populations dependent on these systems. Food security has been the major focus of many strategies to address malnutrition worldwide. Historically, meeting the caloric needs of populations was sufficient to meet global food security goals. However, just focusing on caloric needs alone is not sufficient. Food security programs should include the necessity that all nutrients be met by agricultural systems to redress the increases in malnutrition in mostly resource-poor families dependent on staple food crops for nourishment. “Nutrient security” should be one of the primary goals of food security programs and producing enough nutrients in agricultural systems to meet nutritional needs of all people during all seasons should be the focus. In general, well-nourished food crops grown on fertile soils contain more vitamins and micronutrients than nutr ient-stressed crops grown on infertile soils. Soil micronutrient status, cropping systems, variety selection (i.e., plant breeding) for micronutrient-dense crops (e.g., biofortification), fertilization practices, some soil amendments and livestock and aquiculture production are important factors that impact the nutrient output of these systems. A healthy agricultural industry is crucial for providing nutrients to humans. Soil quality and soil fertility have a direct influence on the nutrient lev els in food crops. Soil improvements can increase productivity and allow for greater diversity of crops without increasing the area cultivated. Agricultural tools, such as micronutrient-enriched fertilizers, and farming systems designed to meet nutritional needs should be used as sustainable strategies to reduce malnutrition. Plant breeders should include nutritional quality traits as well as yield traits as targets for enhancement when breeding for improved crop varieties. Biofortification is a new strategy that has great potential to help reduce the burden of micronutrient malnutrition globally especially in resource-poor families in rural areas. Clearly, agriculture must be closely linked to human nutrition and health if we are to find sustainable solution to malnutrition. -
ProjectImproving Food Security, Nutrition and Health of Vulnerable Women and Children in The Gambia - GCP/GAM/038/EC 2023
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No results found.The Gambia is classified as a low-income-food-deficit country. Seventy-one per cent of the population live below the USD 2 per day poverty line and in 2014 the country was ranked 172 of 187 in the United Nations Human Development Index. Food insecurity and malnutrition are also high. The 2013 National Demographic Household Survey found that two-thirds of children under five, one-third of pregnant women, and 16 percent of lactating mothers had vitamin A deficiency. Despite significant advances in the reduction of undernutrition, the Gambia is still affected by micronutrient deficiencies. Fortification is the addition of one or more micronutrients to a staple food to correct, prevent or reduce micronutrient deficiencies; while biofortification is the process of enhancing the nutritional value of crops by increasing the density of vitamins and minerals in a crop through either conventional plant breeding, agronomic practices or biotechnology. Regulations for food fortification existed only for iodized salt in the country, and while there were programmesproviding some supplements, they were clearly insufficient. Against this background, the European Union-funded project aimed to assist the Government to improve the food and nutrition security of vulnerable women and children in targeted regions, by focusing on ensuring access to and the consumption of micronutrient-rich foods and industrially fortified and biofortified foods.
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