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Post-harvest handling affects #micronutrients retention in #biofortified crops. Provitamin A crops maintain high amounts. Iron & #zinc crops have more variability, but whole #grain product consumption (whole #wheat flour, slightly milled brown #rice) is beneficial: doi.org/10.1038/s430... #nutrition

A systematic review of the imp...

#India emphasised the cultivation #biofortified crops with enhanced #micronutrients & initiated a #nutrition security programme—which led to an (unintended) increase in wheat #yields by 6.4% due to increased #investments in inputs & changes in production technology: doi.org/10.1111/rode...

Nutri‐Farming! Estimating the ...

#Biofortified crops are produced by #farmers in 40+ countries & eaten by hundreds of millions of people. The strategy is now recognized by the #nutrition community as an effective approach to reduce #micronutrient deficiencies. This is promising... (1/2) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.104478

No #GMO crops with #nutrition benefits (such as #GoldenRice & Folate #Biofortified Rice) are commercialized. But #consumers are generally in favour of their introduction—which would generate large #health benefits at relatively low costs: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316585269.013 #plantbreeding

Biofortified #maize offers a potential solution to combat micronutrient #malnutrition. Providing nutrition information significantly increases #farmers' interest in purchasing #biofortified maize seeds: https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.12845 #plantbreeding #seeds #Ethiopia #corn #adoption

A #biofortified zinc-rich #wheat variety emerged as the mega variety of #Pakistan: cultivated on 42% of its wheat cropping area in 2023-24, it helps transform #foodsystems, and gives 97 million people access to affordable #nutrition & improved livelihoods: https://www.harvestplus.org/zinc-enriched-wheat-akbar-2019-emerged-as-a-mega-variety-in-pakistan/

Sub-Saharan #Africa: Maize-based #diets without vitamin A #supplementation are linked to high rates of #vitaminA deficiency (#VAD). So far, #maize breeding programs developed 70 #biofortified elite varieties to curb VAD: https://doi.org/10.1079/cabireviews.2023.0041 #nutrition #plantbreeding

Since 2014, 142 #biofortified crop varieties were developed in #India. They are equal or better in #yields but have normal water & nutrient requirements; their production is not more expensive. 10 million ha have been covered: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1984070 #nutrition #plantbreeding

Conventional #plantbreeding helped develop #legumes with better #nutrition (beans with high #zinc & iron, high zinc #lentils). Molecular breeding can help overcome limitations (genetic diversity, time) to develop future #biofortified legume crops: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33957-8_5 #beans

Plants can be biofortified with #vitaminB12 using #aeroponics to contain recommended daily doses. Being common foods, #biofortified crops align with dietary habits & cultural preferences. This helps promote #sustainable dietary change: https://quadram.ac.uk/plant-powered-innovations-uk-researchers-boost-b12-in-pea-shoots-using-aeroponics/ #diets #nutrition

Developing #biofortified crops thru conventional #plantbreeding takes 8-10 years. #GMOs allow more efficient & faster multi-nutrient #biofortification, combined with #climate resilience. Regulating #geneediting less strictly may help dissemination: https://portlandpress.com/emergtoplifesci/article-abstract/doi/10.1042/ETLS20230066/ #CRISPR

Post-harvest handling can affect #micronutrients retention in #biofortified crops. Provitamin A crops maintain high amounts. Iron & #zinc crops have more variability, dependent on processing methods; whole grain products are better: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-023-00874-y #vitaminA #nutrition

#Farmers were provided with #biofortified wheat seeds. Nearly half re-cultivated the #wheat in the next season. The main motivators were the perceived quality of the #grain, wheat & #flour. Millers saw an opportunity to expand their business: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1158156/ #nutrition

#Biofortified foods play a critical role in addressing the global burden of #micronutrient deficiencies in many emerging economies.There is more consensus about the potential benefits of #biofortification, but the challenge lies in scaling up: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2023.2263972 #nutrition

Iron deficiency #anemia remains a significant burden in rural highlands of #LatinAmerica where #potatoes are a staple. #PlantBreeding could achieve iron #biofortified potatoes that can improve #iron intake in #women via increased total iron absorption: https://nutrition.org/iron-biofortification-of-potatoes-leads-to-higher-total-iron-absorption/

#Biofortified potatoes can reduce #zinc deficiency due to their low #phytate levels & high consumption, esp. in the Andeans; they provide more absorbable zinc than regular #potatoes & could improve #nutrition where potatoes are a staple: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.08.028 #plantbreeding

Utilization of #VitaminA-rich orange-fleshed #sweetpotato is determined by #nutrition awareness (incl. proximity to #markets & extension agents, gender, and #education). For adoption of this #biofortified crop, efforts need to raise awareness: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-022-01326-4 #Kenya

Resilience in #agriculture: improved varieties of crops for better nutrition, yield, and income.

It drives me insane that some people want to prevent farmers from choosing what's right for them.

#Biofortified