Post on 28-May-2019
1
Breeding Crops for Better Nutrition
Howarth BouisProgram Director, HarvestPlus
February 11, 2008
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50
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Indi
a
Paki
stan
Ban
glad
esh
Dev
elop
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Indi
a
Paki
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Ban
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% Changes in Cereal & Pulse Production & in Population Between 1965 & 1999
Cereals Pulses Population
Indices of Inflation-adjusted Prices for Bangladesh 1973-75 = 100
0
25
50
75
100
125
150
175
200
1973-75 1979-81 1988-90 1994-96
Staple
Non-StaplePlants
Fish &Animal
Share of Energy Intake For Rural Bangladesh
Staples
Non-StaplePlants
Fish andAnimal
b1
Share of Food Budget For Rural Bangladesh
Staples
Non-StaplePlants
Fish andAnimal
2
Rising Food Staple Prices
Real world cereal prices projected to rise
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50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2000 2005 2010 2015
Pric
e (U
S$/m
t)
Rice Wheat Maize Other grain
Source: M. Rosegrant, IFPRI 2007
Global Warming• Increased Co2 levels will generally lead
to higher yields offsetting some of the negative impacts (higher temp, drought), but will result in lower nutritional quality
• Protein and micronutrient levels likely to drop (both metabolic processes and nutrient uptake at roots affected)
Climate Change andNutrients in Plants
Source: Nature, Vol. 448, August 2007
Changes (%) in the mean concentration of essential elements in plants grown in twice-ambient atmospheric CO2 relative to those grown at ambient levels
All foliar plants
wheat
Niche/Advantages of Biofortification
• Cost-effective; research at a central location can be multiplied across countries and time
• Sustainable; investments are front-loaded, low recurrent costs
• Targets the poor who eat high levels of food staples
• Rural-based; complements fortification and supplementation
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HarvestPlus Structure
CGIAR Research Centers
CIATTropical agricultureCali, Colombia
CIMMYTMaize and wheat Mexico City, Mexico
IFPRIFood policy Washington, D.C., USA
CIPRoots and tubers Lima, Peru
IITATropical agricultureIbadan, Nigeria
IPGRIAgricultural biodiversityRome, Italy
ICARDAAgriculture in the dry areasAleppo, Syria
IWMIWater resourcesColombo, Sri Lanka
ICRAFAgroforestryand ILRILivestockNairobi,Kenya
CIFORForestryBogor, Indonesia
IRRIRiceLos Baños, Philippines
ICRISATSemi-arid tropical agriculturePatancheru, India
ICLARMFisheriesPenang, Malaysia
WARDARice in West AfricaBenin
CIAT and IFPRI arethe co-conveningCenters of HarvestPlus
HarvestPlus Management Team
CIAT1. Breeding
2. Biotechnology3. End-UserCoordinators
ProgramDirector IFPRI
4. Nutrition5. Impact and Policy6. Communications
Coordinators
Sweetpotato
MaizeCassavaBeansRiceWheat
FacilitationMonitoringInformation Exchange
The HarvestPlus Team at IFPRI
Olyn Panlilio Sonia Penafiel J.V. Meenakshi Cristina Sison
Jenny CramerChristine Hotz Yassir Islam
Bonnie McClafferty
Howdy Bouis
Phase II Crops
• Potato
• Groundnuts
• Lentils
• Plantain
• Sorghum
• Pearl Millet
• Rice
• Wheat
• Maize
• Cassava
• Sweet Potato
• Beans
Phase I Crops
• Pigeon Peas• Cowpeas• Yams• Barley
• Pearl Millet
Phase II Crops
• Potato
• Groundnuts
• Lentils
• Plantain
• Sorghum
• Rice
• Wheat
• Maize
• Cassava
• Sweet Potato
• Beans
Phase I Crops
• Pearl Millet
4
HarvestPlus: Coordinating a Multidisciplinary Program
7. Communication
6. Impact/policy
5. Reaching end-users
4. Human nutrition
3. Food processing
2. Biotechnology
1. Breeding
BeanCIAT
Sweet potatoCIP
CassavaCIAT
Wheat CIMMYT
Maize CIMMYT
RiceIRRI
Function
Funding ($million for 2003-2008)
$1.2Interest
$1.9DANIDA & SIDA
$13.5World Bank$6.9USAID
$66.5TOTAL
$0.5Asian Development Bank
$3.7DFID
$38.7Gates Foundation
Will Biofortification Work?
• Can breeding be successful, can nutrient levels be increased to high enough levels?
• Will the extra nutrients be absorbed at sufficient levels that micronutrient status will be improved?
• Will farmers adopt and will consumers buy/eat in sufficient quantities?
HarvestPlus Milestones By Crop –Year 4 of 10
1010
3. End User
2. Bioavail-ability
1. Breeding
CassMaizeWheatRiceBeanSwPoStep
Setting Nutrient Target Levels For
Breeders
Fe required (mg/d)
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6
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0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100Estimated percentile of Requirement
Fe re
quire
men
t (m
g/d)
range of habitual intakes in Filipino women
The distribution of Fe requirements is modeled from a factorial accounting for body size, age, menstrual blood loss, and contraceptive use (IOM 2001). A Monte Carlo simulation with n>1000 was used.
7 mg/d intake is sufficient for only 50% of women
11 mg/d is sufficient for 80% of women
Meeting dietary iron requirements
at two levels of intake from rice
5
Milled Dry Rice,Women,Rural Population,Asia
As consumed:400 grams per day x +10 mg/kg FE =
+4.0 mg/day FE
Absorbed (10% bioavailability):+0.4 mg/day = 30% of the
Mean Physiological Requirement for Absorbed Iron
90% retention after boiling:Requires +11 mg/kg FE as purchased
Target for Breeders:2 mg/kg (current average) + 11mg/kg = 13 mg/kg
Minimum generic target levels• Starting with case of adult women &
children 4-6 yrs of age:
• The increment in the micronutrient content of biofortified staple foods would provide the equivalent of:
~50% of the EAR for (pro) Vitamin A
~40% of the EAR for (bioavailable) Zinc
~30% of the EAR for (bioavailable) iron
0123456789
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Fina
l bod
y iro
n (m
g/kg
)
1 2 3
Body iron at baseline (mg/kg)
Total body iron after nine months of consuming high-iron (+1.7 mg Fe/dy) or control rice
stratified by 3 levels of baseline body iron
Control
High-iron
p = .036
p = .032
NS
2.6 6.0 8.7
Least square means controlling for baseline body iron and amount of rice consumed over 9 months. Yellow numbers inside bars reflect changes from baseline value
+0.1+1.2
-0.5+0.6
-0.90.0
Schedule of Product Releases
2014Pro-vitamin ACassava2013Zinc, IronWheat
2013Pro-vitamin A, Zinc, IronMaize
2012Zinc, IronRice2011Iron, ZincPearl Millet2010Iron, ZincBean2007Pro-vitamin ASweetpotato
Release Year of Initial Lines*NutrientsCrop
* Approved for release by national governments after 2-3 years of testing
HarvestPlus: Coordinating a Multidisciplinary Program
7. Communication
6. Impact/policy
5. Reaching end-users
4. Human nutrition
3. Food processing
2. Biotechnology
1. Breeding
BeanCIAT
Sweet potatoCIP
CassavaCIAT
Wheat CIMMYT
Maize CIMMYT
RiceIRRI
Function
Maize █ Baseline █ Achieved by 2012
▼ Target ▼ Genetic Variation
6
Maize Crop MeetingZambia, March 2007
16 Breeders attended from the following countries:
Mexico BrazilEthiopia GhanaGuatemala ZambiaZimbabwe MozambiqueAngola ChinaNigeria South Africa
HarvestPlus: Coordinating a Multidisciplinary Program
7. Communication
6. Impact/policy
5. Reaching end-users
4. Human nutrition
3. Food processing
2. Biotechnology
1. Breeding
BeanCIAT
Sweet potatoCIP
CassavaCIAT
Wheat CIMMYT
Maize CIMMYT
RiceIRRI
Function
There is Considerable Natural Variation in Maize for Flux Into the Carotenoid Pathway
“Natural Genetic Variation in LycopeneEpsilon Cyclase Tapped for Maize
Biofortification”Science, January 18, 2008
We show that variation at the lycopene epsilon cyclase locus (lcyE) alters flux down a-carotene versus b-carotene branches of the carotenoid pathway.
Selection of favorable lcyE alleles with inexpensive molecular markers will now enable developing country breeders to more effectively produce maize grain with higher provitamin A levels.
Carotenoid Biosynthetic Pathway
ZDS
GGPP
Phytoene
Phytofluene
ζ- carotene
Neurosporene
PSY
PDS
Lycopene
α- carotene β-carotene
β-crytptoxanthin
ZeaxanthinLutein
β- LCY β- LCY
vp9
vp5
y1
2x
2x * **
Desaturases
Cyclases
Hydroxylases
*
*
Synthase
e- LCY
HarvestPlus: Coordinating a Multidisciplinary Program
7. Communication
6. Impact/policy
5. Reaching end-users
4. Human nutrition
3. Food processing
2. Biotechnology
1. Breeding
BeanCIAT
Sweet potatoCIP
CassavaCIAT
Wheat CIMMYT
Maize CIMMYT
RiceIRRI
Function
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Yellow/orange maize is highly promising to improve vitamin A status
A reasonable amount of pro-vitamin A is retained after processing
i. Mostly concentrated in the endosperm, therefore not lost by milling
ii. Majority is retained in cooked maize products typical for East/West Africa and Central America
Maize – high pro-vitamin A retention
64%
71-75%
75%
90-93%
Retention after processing
Wet milled
Tortilla chips
Fermented porridge
Unfermented porridge
HarvestPlus: Coordinating a Multidisciplinary Program
7. Communication
6. Impact/policy
5. Reaching end-users
4. Human nutrition
3. Food processing
2. Biotechnology
1. Breeding
BeanCIAT
Sweet potatoCIP
CassavaCIAT
Wheat CIMMYT
Maize CIMMYT
RiceIRRI
Function
Yellow/orange maize is highly promising to improve vitamin A status
~3 BC = 1 retinol
Orange maize (gerbils)
~ 7 BC = 1 retinol
12 BC = 1 retinol
Beta-carotene
Orange maize (humans)
Average for plant foods
‘Pro-Vitamin A from orange maize has a high rate of Vitamin A activity’
**Preliminary**
Yellow/orange maize is highly promising to improve vitamin A status
Next steps…
Bioefficacy
Select target country
Produce maize
HarvestPlus: Coordinating a Multidisciplinary Program
7. Communication
6. Impact/policy
5. Reaching end-users
4. Human nutrition
3. Food processing
2. Biotechnology
1. Breeding
BeanCIAT
Sweet potatoCIP
CassavaCIAT
Wheat CIMMYT
Maize CIMMYT
RiceIRRI
Function
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Hom
e us
e te
stin
gC
entra
l loc
atio
n te
stin
g
With nutrition
information
With no nutrition
information
With nutrition
information
With no nutrition
information
Provided by radio
Provided by community leaders
Provided by radio
Product experienceRole of nutrition information
And mode of its disseminationElicitation
mechanism
Posted price experiment
Posted price experiment
Posted price experiment
Posted price experiment
Posted price experiment
First price auction
Second-price auction
Consumption of Staple Foods in India
Relatively low wheat plus rice consumption (11%)
High wheat consumption(27% of population)
High rice consumption (32% of population)
Legend:
High wheat plusrice consumption (30%)
“High consumption:”> 325 grams dry, milled rice, wheat, rice+wheatper capita per day;74% rural; 26% urban
India Dissemination Strategy
• Incur breeding costs such that genes that determine high iron and zinc content are included in all major breeding lines → all crosses will contain high iron and zinc → released lines with agronomic superiority will contain high iron and zinc
• Over time, rice and wheat production will contain ever higher levels of iron and zinc as non-biofortified varieties are replaced.
1986
1986
1991
19911992/3 1993/4
1997/8
1995/61994/5
1998
1983
1985
Movement of Yr9 VirulenceCentro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo
Pak-81 withInquilab 91
Pakistan Variety Area Share, 1997
0.000
0.100
0.200
0.300
0.400
0.500
0.600
Inqila
b 91
Pak 81
Wattan
Parwaz
Rawal 87
Sariab
92
Zamind
ar 80
Sind 81
Pavon
Kohino
or 83
Barani
91
Pirsaba
k 85
Mehran
89
Faisala
bad 83
Source: CIMMYT Database
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Inquilab 91
Advanced Line
Pakistan, Peshawar
Orange Fleshed Sweetpotato
Reaching End Users
1. Diagnostic analyses
3. Develop products &
markets4. Create demand
2.Farmer adoption
Extension SeedPrograms Systems
5.Monitor & feedback .
Towards Sustainable Nutrition Improvement in Rural Mozambique (TSNI), Project Activities April - September 2004
Taste tests are conducted at every adaptive trial harvest todetermine taste and appearance preferences of local consumers.
.
Towards Sustainable Nutrition Improvement in Rural Mozambique (TSNI), Project Activities April - September 2004
Sweet potato bread maker Carlitos Agosto making his bread at home and selling it in the nearby market of Lualua. Bread is marketing under the name of Pão de Ouro (Golden Bread). Carlitos almost doubles his profit substituting38% of wheat flour (by weight) with boiled and mashed sweet potato.
.
Towards Sustainable Nutrition Improvement in Rural Mozambique (TSNI), Project Activities April - September 2004
Local theater group in Malei locality presenting scene where a herbalistis providing roots to mix in water to give to the newborn in lieu of colostrum.
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Mozambique Pilot Study
0.000.670.85Vitamin B6 (mg)
0.861111(% of kcal)
0.131517Fat (g)
0.043034Protein (g)
0.0056426Vitamin A (µg RAE)
0.0012261414Energy (kcal)(n = 234)(n = 465)
p-valueControlIntervention
Mozambique Pilot Study
7370
4858 60
52
38
53
0102030405060708090
100
Low
ser
um re
tinol
con
cent
ratio
n, %
A B
I C I C I C I C
I
Figure 1 Percent of all children (A) and apparently healthy children (B) with low serum retinol concentration (< 0.70µmol/L), at baseline and after 2-y intervention. 8 children in intervention areas who had received vitamin A capsules in the 12 mo preceding the end of the study are excluded from both A and B. The apparently healthy child sample (B) excludes children with plasma C-reactive protein > 5 mg/L in each round. Error bars represent 95% CI. For all children (A), n =490 in intervention areas (I) and n =243 in control areas (C). For healthy children (B) the sample size differs by round; at baseline, n =200 for I and n =64 for C. At endof study n =310 for I and n =163 for C. *I is different from C, P <0.01, chi-square test.
Baseline End of study
**
**
Short-Term Key Issue
• Can we get the donors/governments to raise funding to the next level?– To speed up the breeding process
and the probability of success of breeding
– Later this will need to be stepped up again• Capacity building in NARES and other institutions
• Dissemination costs
Medium Term Key Issues
• What levels of what nutrients (and/or compounds that increase bioavailability) do we need to be breeding for to have a significant public health impact?
Long-Term Key Issues• Linking high-nutrient content to major
improvement in crop yield/profitability (for any given country/region)– Long-term commitment by agricultural
research institutions to mainstreaming nutritional characteristics in their breeding programs
– Long-term commitment for within-country funding
• Finding low-cost ways to effect behavioral change among poor consumers (visible nutrients)
Sustainability:Establishment of “Country Programs”
What is a Country Program?• Development of institutional
structures in a few selected countries for the purpose of promoting and coordinating research and dissemination of biofortified crops in those countries.
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Sustainability:Establishment of “Country Programs”
Criteria and Objectives for selection:• Strong scientific infrastructure• Ability eventually to provide regional
leadership in promoting biofortification; sharing of research findings globally
• Government eventually would provide substantial funding
• Research/development of multiple HarvestPlus crops
Sustainability:Establishment of “Country Programs”
Brazil, China, India (South Africa in H+II?)
• China, large scientific infrastructure, beginning to become involved in foreign assistance
• India, strong funding support from the government
• Brazil, seven crops, excellent interdisciplinary and inter-crop coordination