HarvestPlus c/o IFPRI, KampalaPlot 15 East Naguru Road.Tel: +256 414287107 •HarvestPlus@cgiar.org • www.HarvestPlus.org

Promoting Nutritious Diverse Diets using Biofortified Crops

Africa Day of Food and Nutrition Security28-30th October 2015

By Sylvia Magezi & Anna Marie Ball

Outline of presentation

• Introduction

• The Evidence from efficacy studies

• The Uganda HarvestPlus program

HarvestPlus

• HarvestPlus leads a global effort to address micronutrient malnutrition using biofortified staples rich in vitamins and minerals

• Supports breeding of biofortified crops through partnerships with other CG centres and NARS

• Support delivery/dissemination through various mechanisms in different countries

Global Micronutrient Deficiency

This map details worldwide severity of the most common micronutrient deficiencies—vitamin A, anemia, and zinc—using World Health Organization (WHO) children under 5 prevalence data. Severity was coded using a 3-point weighting system based on levels of public health significance cut-offs (low, moderate, and high).

20112

Cassava

Vitamin A

NigeriaDR Congo

Beans

Iron (Zinc)

RwandaDR Congo

Maize

Vitamin A

NigeriaZambia

2012 2012

Boifortified Crops for Africa

2007

Sweet PotatoesVitamin A

UgandaRwanda

Pearl Millet

Iron (Zinc)

India

Rice

Zinc

BangladeshIndia

Wheat

Zinc

IndiaPakistan

Biofortified Crops for Asia

20122 2013220132

Other Crops

• Biofortified crops released in 33 countries 22 in Africa, 7 in LAC, 4 in Asia

• In-testing in 45 countries 26 in Africa, 10 in LAC, 8 in Asia, 1 in Middle East

PotatoIron

LentilIron, Zinc

SorghumIron, Zinc

Banana/PlantainVitamin A

CowpeaIron, Zinc

The Evidence

• Crops tested for micronutrient content• Nutrition studies are done to ascertain the

bioavailability

• Biofortified crops do impact significantly on micronutrient status:

–Orange sweet potatoes (OSP) on vitamin A status–High iron beans and pearl millet on iron status

or adolescent girls

Impact of OSP on mean vitamin A intake

µg Retinol Activity Equivalents (RAE)/day

OSP versus other food sources

Children 6-35 months

Vitamin A OSP Reduces Diarrhea - Moz

• Eating orange sweet potato (OSP) reduces the incidence and duration of diarrhea in children. – For children < 3 likelihood of

developing diarrhea was reduced by more than 50% and duration of diarrhea reduced by more than 25%.

– For children < 5 likelihood of developing diarrhea was reduced by more than 40% and duration of diarrhea reduced by more than 10%.

Iron Bean trial in Rwanda• 116 female students were

fed on high iron beans and compared to 118 females of the control group

• Changes in iron status for both groups were compared

• Significant changes hemoglobin and ferritin were found for group that fed on iron beans

• A new study found that iron pearl millet was able to reverse iron deficiency in children aged 12-16 years in India within six months

Iron Pearl Millet - India

Uganda HarvestPlus Program

Goal: Reducing micronutrient malnutrition and improve dietary intakes of vitamin A and iron for 286,000Hhs in 23 districts in Uganda by 2016.

Purpose: Increasing the production & consumption of Orange Sweet Potato (OSP) and High Iron beans (HIB) in project area –

Implementation areas Uganda

Uganda – HarvestPlus program

• Supports breeding and multiplication of seed• Enhances production of OSP and Iron beans• Strengthens recommended feeding practices• Creates awareness on nutrition benefits to

stimulate further adoption • Conducts advocacy activities to encourage

uptake other organizations• Develops market linkages and business

support services

Participatory Research with NARO

ON FARM TRIALSOrange Sweet Potato• On farm trials

including palatability tests

Iron Beans• 39 on farm trials for

5 preleased varieties

Disseminating clean planting material

• Tissue cultures vines are multiplied and given to community seed producers to multiply further and give to farmers

Vine distribution to farmers

Nutrition training with cooking demos

Create awareness on the nutrition benefits of biofortified crops

Demonstrate appropriate preparation and feeding practices

Communication ChannelsNational

and District Radio

/Exhibitions

Field days

Community Drama

Community Nutrition

For different audiences

Leaders/Politicians

Stakeholders – NGOs

Farmers

PHH and Value addition

Supporting marketing

• Link farmers and markets• Sensitize traders on nutritional importance• Train farmers in FaaB

Reaching the wider audience

• Exhibitions targeting institutions promoting food security, schools; policy makers;

Working with Health centers

-250 VHTs trainedand

-35 Sub county and district nutrition committees supported

Engaging health workers in the project area

Working with Schools

• Establishing OSP gardens in primary and secondary schools encouraging sale of tubers & beans

Nalweyiso and her children

“Before we started eating OSP and iron beans our children frequently fell sick, but when we started eating these crops our children’s health has improved greatly”

Donors and Partners

This work has been made possible because of the support from - USAID and Gates FoundationAnd with partners:World Vision, Samaritan’s Purse, Africa 2000 Network, VEDCO, CEDO, Caritas, Healthy Child Uganda, COVOID

Thank You!

www.harvestplus.org