Addressing Micronutrient Deficiencies: Alternative Interventions and Technologies
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.
Citation
AgBioForum, 10(3): 124-134.