HarvestPlus Challenge Program: Weaving Nutrition into Agriculture

Sometimes little things make all the difference. Micronutrient malnutrition is now firmly on the agricultural research agenda as HarvestPlus weaves together agriculture and nutrition sciences as part of its mission to biofortify staple foods. It is a new way of doing business in the CGIAR.

Screening germplasm for nutrient-dense bioavailable varieties
Nutritionists and plant breeders are working to determine the composition of micronutrients in the germplasm of target staple foods. Natural variability in micronutrient concentrations as well as those of nutrient absorption inhibitors and promoters are being identified in targeted staple crops to select the most promising varieties. Global standards for micronutrient screening are being adapted and established for HarvestPlus crops in laboratories around the world. Moreover, because nutrient density must be retained beyond the laboratory and the field, the effects of storage, processing, and cooking on promising germplasm is also being tested.

Bioavailability
Having nutrients present in the edible portion of crops does not necessarily mean the human body can absorb and use them. Sometimes micronutrients are simply not "bioavailable." HarvestPlus is working to screen and rank germplasm for bioavailability using in vitro methods. The best lines will be validated in animal models, and finally tested in humans.

Efficacy and acceptability
HarvestPlus nutrition scientists are also working to develop indicators that measure nutritional benefit through less invasive techniques such as breath tests. Efficacy measures the biological effect of consuming a biofortified crop under controlled conditions. It is a complex and lengthy process. Biofortified crops must be grown, harvested, milled, and prepared without micronutrient contamination. The crop must be fed in measured quantities to a minimal number of people under controlled conditions for a specified period of time. Blood samples must be taken to measure impact and the data must be analyzed.

Effectiveness
Once efficacy has been demonstrated and impact and policy analyses show new varieties have the potential to improve nutritional status, effectiveness will be measured in real-life settings. Prior to doing this, studies will be carried out to determine what attributes in food affect consumption behavior and whether bio-fortification changes the sensory characteristics of food-the look or consistency. Will attitudes have to change to make biofortified food acceptable at the individual, community, and institutional level?

Forging Partnerships
Nutrition and agriculture research are being woven together in the lab, field, and in the institutions that support HarvestPlus research efforts around the world. This new way of doing business has required CGIAR scientists to address new priorities, build new partnerships, and attract new donors. With the increased focus on nutrition, HarvestPlus has attracted over $30 million from public health and nutrition donors. Moreover, 25 nutrition research institutions around the world are members of the HarvestPlus alliance.