Journal article
Biofortification, biodiversity and diet: A search for complementary applications against poverty and malnutrition
International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), Via dei tre Denari 472/a, Rome, Italy1
School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, Macdonald Campus, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Que., Canada H9X 3V92
Biofortification, the focus of the HarvestPlus program of the Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research (CGIAR), represents a potentially powerful tool to increase dietary intake of essential nutrients in staple foods. This paper evaluates the compatibility of biofortification with the preferred option of dietary diversification and its potential impacts on the agricultural biodiversity essential for long term sustainability.
In poor countries, biofortification requires increasing public investment in agricultural research and infrastructure for success. Rather than cereal commodities, biofortification for developing countries should focus on vegetatively propagated species or in improving quality of coarse cereals, as well as fodders.
Community participatory approaches that identify local food resources with nutritional, agronomic and economic advantages to small-scale farmers could complement and set targets for biofortification as one of many approaches to alleviate nutritional deficiencies. Furthermore using agricultural biodiversity to reinforce dietary diversity can help situate biofortification within the larger context of sustainable food-based approaches.
In this light, this paper evaluates specific biofortification interventions from environmental, sociocultural, political, economic, ethical, and biomedical perspectives.
Language: | English |
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Year: | 2007 |
Pages: | 1-24 |
ISSN: | 18735657 and 03069192 |
Types: | Journal article |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.foodpol.2006.03.014 |