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The Role Of Biofortification As Part Of More Diverse

Diets In Africa Progress, Challenges, And

Opportunities

Bho Mudyahoto

Senior Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation Specialist, HarvestPlus

ReSAKSS 2016 Conference | October 20, 2016 | Accra

Presentation Outline

• Introduction

• Current Evidence

• Challenges

• Opportunities

• Key Messages

Micronutrient Deficiency Affects 2 billion people worldwide (i.e. 1 in 3)

(FAO 2013)

Contributes to the global disease burden

Poor quality diets is one of the major causes– High intake of starchy staple foods

(e.g. rice, maize, cassava)

– Low intake of micronutrient-rich foods (e.g. vegetables, legumes, animal source foods)

High prevalence of micronutrient deficiency Africa

Global Micronutrient Deficiency

Fighting Micronutrient Deficiency

Supplementation Fortification

BiofortificationDietary diversity

B I O F O R T I F I C A T I O N

Biofortification is a process of increasing the density of nutrients e.g.

vitamins and minerals in a crop through plant breeding or agronomic

practices, so that the biofortified crops, when consumed regularly, will generate measurable improvement in vitamin and mineral nutritional status.

3

1 2

It all started with…

Dr. Howarth Bouis2016 World Food Prize Laureate

Are farmers willing to grow and are

consumers willing to eat biofortified

crops?

Can conventional breeding add extra

nutrients in the crops without

reducing yields?

When consumed, can the increase in

nutrient levels make a measurable and

significant impact on human nutrition?

After several years of research & delivery…..

Yes, we now know that biofortification is

feasible & effective!

Extra micronutrients in biofortified crops can significantly improve micronutrient status

of consumers

Conventional breeding can add extra

nutrients in crops without reducing

yields

Farmers are willing to grow and consumers

are willing to eat biofortified crops and their products

Current Evidence: Breeding of Biofortified

Crops

Vitamin ASweet Potato

Uganda(2007)

Biofortified Crops in Africa

Vitamin AMaizeZambia(2012)

Iron Beans

Rwanda & DRC(2012)

Vitamin ACassava

Nigeria & DRC(2011)

Breeding, Testing & Release of Varieties

• HarvestPlus/CG/NARS develop, test & release

• NARS release and keep improving nutrient levels and other production traits

• Biofortified germplasm public goods to governments

• Over 20 African countries are now developing, testing & releasing several biofortified crop varieties

Status of biofortified varieties in Africa

Status of biofortifiedcrop varieties

Iron beans

Yellow cassava

Orange maize

Orange sweet

potatoes

Number of countries tested in 6 8 10 > 14

Number of countries released in 6 5 7 > 14

Number of varieties released 28 10 31 > 90

Source: HarvestPlus (2016)

Current Evidence: Nutrition

• When consumed regularly and in sufficient quantities biofortified crops can deliver significant % of EAR for iron, zinc, or vitamin A (Li et al. 2010; La Frano et al. 2013; Rosado et al. 2009; Cercamondi et al. 2013)

• Efficacy trials for vitamin A crops and iron beans provide good evidence that biofortification improves micronutrient status among target populations

• 9.5% reduction in prevalence of low serum retinol in women and children due to significant intake of OSP (Hotz et al., 2012)

• OSP accounted for more than half of total vitamin A intake – 53% in Uganda and 78% in Mozambique (Hotz et al., 2012)

Current Evidence: Reach, Adoption &

Consumption

Number of households reached in Africa (‘000)

Crop/country 2012 2013 2014 2015 Vit A cassava, Nigeria 0 106 360 528

Vit A SP, Uganda 33 76 107 132

Iron beans, Uganda 29 69 43 37

Iron beans, Rwanda 105 609 332 453

Iron beans, DR Congo 60 241 128 175

Vit A cassava, DRC 0 25 75 180

Vit A maize, Zambia 0 11 104 110

Total 227 1,137 1,149 1,634

Adoption: Socio-Economic Evidence (1)

• Orange-Fleshed Sweet potato (OSP) Effectiveness Study in Uganda and Mozambique (de Brauw et al., 2010)– 61% (Uganda) and 68% (Mozambique) adoption rate of OSP– Farmers increased % share of OSP in total sweet potato cultivated area

and consumers substituted non-OSP varieties for OSP varieties– Intervention cost about US$15–20 per DALY saved highly cost-

effective

• Vit A Cassava Consumer Acceptance in Nigeria (Oparinde et al., 2014)

– Information on nutritional benefits positivehas an effect on level of acceptance; farmers preferred gari made with vitamin A cassava versus local white gari

High Iron Beans (HIBs) Impact Assessment Study in Rwanda

• 28% HIB adoption since 2010 ≈ Half a million HHs

• 54% continuous or intermittent adopters

• Increase in area under HIB over time

• 12% of total bean output in SB 2015 was HIB

• Social networks play a major role in diffusion– 41% received first planting material from friend or neighbor

(Asare-Marfo et al., 2016)

Adoption: Socio-Economic Evidence (2)

• High phytate content in crops being developed for high iron or zinc interfere with their absorption

• β-carotene levels vs DM content in OSP & VAC

• Invisible trait crops iron and zinc: – Adulteration/falsification along the value chain

• Barriers to scale-up

• Seed production is a constraint in many countries– Low access by the poor– Seed companies not interested in root & tuber crops – Seed quality control

Challenges

• Wide range of varieties available

• Success of the 2nd Global Conference on Biofortification Kigali Declaration

• Increased stakeholder interest in Biofortification

• HarvestPlus developed an online, interactive BPI tool a global map

• Biofortification Priority Index (BPI) assisting investors

Opportunities for Scaling Up Biofortification

BPI for Vit A Maize & HIB

Source: Asare-Marfo et al. (2013)

• Integration of biofortification – Crop development programs– National regional & international policies & strategies– International standards Codex Alimentarius

• Mainstreaming of biofortification by CG & NARS

• License seed companies to produce & market

• A critical mass of partners WVI, WFP

• Engaging partners to ensure enabling environment CAADP, SUN

• Facilitate and strengthen international trade

Opportunities for Mainstreaming Biofortification

• Evidence demonstrates that Biofortification is feasible & effective– Conventional breeding can add extra nutrients – Farmers are willing to grow, consumers willing to eat– Added micronutrients can improve nutritional status of consumers

• Varietal development, dissemination and utilization challenges exist but are surmountable

• PPP at national, regional & global level are key to scaling up biofortification

• BPI useful tool to guide investment in biofortification

• Mainstreaming biofortification at institutional, program, policy, regional and global level crucial for sustainability

Key Messages

Thank you!