"Addressing Micronutrient Deficiencies: Alternative Interventions and Technologies"

Journal Article, AgBioForum: The Journal of AgroBiotechnology Management & Economics, Special Issue: Biofortified Food Crops: Progress and Prospects in Developing Countries, volume 10, issue 3, pages 124-134

2007

Authors: Laurian Unnevehr, Carl Pray, Robert Paarlberg, Advisory Board Member, Agricultural Innovation in Africa Project; Former Research Fellow, Science, Technology, and Globalization Project/Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, 2007–2008

Belfer Center Programs or Projects: Science, Technology, and Globalization; Science, Technology, and Public Policy

ABSTRACT

Market failure for nutritional attributes of foods leads to underinvestment in crop breeding to enhance nutritional content of foods. As awareness of the importance of micronutrient deficiencies in the diets of poor people has grown, public investments in research to create biofortified staple crops have increased. The potential for this new approach is assessed in two ways. First, an examination of lessons from established interventions to address micronutrient deficiencies shows where and how biofortification can complement existing interventions and provides guidance regarding potential hurdles to successful implementation. Second, the potential for different crop-breeding technologies to biofortify crops is examined, and the advances that can only be achieved through application of modern biotechnology are identified.

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Full text of this publication is available at:
http://www.agbioforum.org/v10n3/v10n3a01-unnevehr.pdf

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