Biofortified Maize and Beans with Micronutrients

Executive Summary

More than 3 billion people do not meet their basic food needs and are at risk of diseases and a lower quality of life due to micronutrient deficiencies. Among the possible solutions is the genetic improvement of crops, which can be a long-term and lower-cost option compared to providing vitamin and mineral supplements or fortifying foods through industrial post-production processes.

This project proposed, based on local agrobiodiversity, to evaluate and produce new corn and bean materials with high mineral and protein content through genetic improvement as an alternative for poor urban and rural communities in Bolivia, Colombia, and Venezuela. Its implementation involved a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nutritionists, social workers, breeders, and agronomists from six institutions specializing in nutrition and genetic improvement. The activities focused on the departments of Cauca and Nariño in Colombia; Cochabamba and Santa Cruz in Bolivia; and the state of Lara in Venezuela. The main specific objectives were:

• Characterization of bean and corn diversity for nutritional quality
• Obtaining new varieties of beans with high mineral content
• Developing protocols for children's diets using biofortified beans and QPM corn
• Training and informing the public and companies about these new opportunities

The technological solution

The technological solution of the Project was based on the genetic improvement of two key species for feeding the population of Latin America: corn and beans. The low quality of traditional corn protein (lysine and tryptophan content) and micronutrient deficiencies (zinc and iron) in poor populations motivated researchers to explore the genetic diversity of both species to remedy these deficiencies. In the case of corn, the solution was to identify and improve the materials known as QPM that show better quality proteins, and in the case of beans, to identify and evaluate lines of this species with higher zinc and iron contents. Although the studies carried out do not lead to immediate solutions, they do provide an important base of knowledge and experience for other initiatives of this nature. 

Results

Beneficiaries

The potential beneficiaries are consumers in rural and urban areas, especially women and children who normally show nutritional deficiencies. The information obtained is relevant for researchers and planners of agri-food policies in participating countries. 

A case of interest directly related to the project's results was documented in Bolivia. The Pairumani Seed Center in 2007 sold 45,000 kg of improved opaque 2 maize seed (QPM), standing out the Aychasara 101 variety. If we consider that small farmers buy an average of 15Kg per family, the benefits were extended to about 3,000 families! 

Sustainable Development Goals

Main donors