Description

Biofortification reduces malnutrition by breeding essential micronutrients into staple crops. This interdisciplinary approach bridges the fields of human nutrition, crop science and public health to develop a set of highly sustainable nutrition interventions in a cost-effective manner. The effectiveness of biofortification derives from the fact that one-time research at a central location can be leveraged across countries and over time. By targeting the rural poor, biofortification approaches can complement and enhance existing nutrition interventions. Recently the CGIAR has launched Challenge Programs (CP) - an innovative approach to forging multi-disciplinary, multi-institution and multi-country partnerships that tackle problems of global significance in agriculture and allied sectors. The Challenge Program "Biofortified Crops for Improved Human Nutrition" is one of two CPs being piloted.

Participants will benefit from learning about the biofortification Challenge Program, proof of concept research to date, nutritional genomics, human nutrition research, and next steps in the development of the biofortification research agenda. There will be ample opportunity for discussion.