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
Biofortification is a feasible and cost-effective 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 deficiency through plant breeding works. More than 20 million people in farm households in developing countries are now growing and consuming biofortified 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 biofortification to improve nutrition globally. To reach one billion people by 2030, there are 3 key challenges:
- mainstreaming biofortified traits into public plant breeding programs
- building consumer demand
- integrating biofortification 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. “Improving nutrition through biofortification: A review of evidence from HarvestPlus, 2003 through 2016.” Global Food Security 12 (March 2017): 49-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2017.01.009.