Dr. Brian Hilton Food Security Advisor World Vision

Why agriculture and nutrition together?

How can biofortification reduce micronutrient deficiencies?

What are the technologies available to improve the nutritive value of crops?

Agriculture makes money!

Pineapple incomePigeon pea income

VegetableIncome

Nutrition is low cost and very high impact

Copenhagen ConsensusTOP FIVE SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL POVERTY CHALLENGE

1 Micronutrient supplements for children Malnutrition

2 The Doha development agenda Trade

3 Micronutrient fortification Malnutrition

4 Expanded immunization coverage for children Diseases

5 Biofortification Malnutrition

Agriculture helps men get involved in nutrition

Agriculture interacts with nutrition on many levels (diet diversity, protein availability, aflatoxin control , micronutrient

availability)

Iron Vitamin A• 2 billion people – over 30% of

the world’s population – are anemic

• In developing countries 50% pregnant woman and 40% of preschool children are estimated to be anemic.

• Anemia contributes to 20% of all maternal deaths.

• An estimated 250 million preschool children are vitamin A deficient

• An estimated 250 000 to 500 000 vitamin A-deficient children become blind every year.

The effects of micronutrient deficiency

Supplementation Commercial Fortification

BiofortificationBreeding improved nutrition into staple crops

Dietary Diversity

Approaches to reducing micronutrient deficiencies

Biofortified crops can improve micronutrient status of target populations. Foods that are visibly different may require nutrition and behavior change activities.

AusAID ANCP funded project in Burundi92% of population eats beans

Conventionally bred high iron beans not GM

High YieldInsect resistanceDisease resistanceDrought resistanceBetter nutrition

High iron traits have been bred into a range of beans

Biofortified maize is orange and must overcome the stigma of yellow maize food aid

Biofortified crops really do improve healthHigh iron rice study: Catholic sisters from 10

convents in the Philippines

C

Rice - the future high iron crop. GM rice being developed. Conventionally bred rice coming?

Iron 4 x higher throughout

Do the consequences of micronutrient deficiency justify a more widespread use of GM crops?