Abstract

PIP: The 4 strategies for reducing micronutrient malnutrition are supplementation, fortification, dietary diversification, and disease reduction. Arguments are adduced for investing in a 5th strategy, plant breeding. This long-term strategy has already been taken by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), a group of 17 agricultural research centers seeking to raise farm productivity in developing countries. A coordinated plan has been developed involving collaborative research on 5 major staple food crops (rice, wheat, maize, beans, and cassava) between 5 core research institutes. The feasibility of a plant breeding strategy hinges on 5 core questions: 1) the scientific feasibility and the time needed to breed staple food varieties whose seeds are micronutrient-dense, 2) the effect of breeding micronutrient-dense seeds on plant yields, 3) whether breeding for micronutrient-dense seeds will change processing or consumer characteristics of staple foods, 4) whether micronutrient bioavailability will be increased to a significant degree in staples, and 5) the existence of other inexpensive, sustainable strategies for reducing micronutrient malnutrition. Zinc-dense wheat varieties, developed at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute of the University of Adelaide, are already being grown in Australia. 10 years may be required before nutritionally-improved varieties could be available for commercial production by farmers in developing countries. Such small amounts will not alter the appearance, taste, texture, or cooking quality of foods. If the presently low iron content of food staples could be increased by a factor of 3.5 this would double bioavailable iron. This strategy does hold promise for significantly reducing recurrent expenditures required for these higher-cost, short-run programs by significantly reducing the numbers of people requiring treatment. It would seem prudent to invest now in a plant breeding strategy to maintain momentum for further reductions in iron and other mineral deficiencies.