Biofortification consists of improving crops to increase their nutritional value.
Since the late 1990s, the concept of biofortification of crops was introduced, in Latin America and the Caribbean, it was included through the Agro Salud Project, executed between 2005-2011, and through an international consortium in which 14 countries participated. Later, starting in 2012, the consortium coordinated by the HarvestPlus Program decided to expand the basket of crops rich in vitamins and minerals, including the development of varieties not only with high nutrient content but also adapted to different climatic conditions and high productivity.
This has been an important achievement achieved by research in genetic improvement with the participation of international partners and the INIA of the region, who generated these varieties at no cost to the producer.
Micronutrient-rich crops provide an interface between agriculture and nutrition to address food insecurity and nutritional deficiencies. The iron-rich bean, for example, has an average iron content of 75 ppm, surpassing traditional varieties that contain 50 ppm.
This videoconference, is expected to contribute through the socialization of experiences, achievements and challenges that have occurred in the countries part the platform financed by FONTAGRO called "Regional Alliances for the Dissemination of Iron-rich Beans", with the participation of leaders and researchers from Agrosavia in Colombia, IDIAF in the Dominican Republic, INTA in Nicaragua, DICTA in Honduras and IDIAP in Panama.
Date: Monday, February 27, 2023
Time: 10:00 am from the Republic of Panama.
Registration link: https://bit.ly/3YR4QC9
