Bio-fortified Crops: A Possible Answer To GMO and Malnutrition
Bio-fortified Crops: A Possible Answer To GMO and Malnutrition
Genetically modified crops can prove to be very damaging for health. Bt brinjal was actively protested against because it was damaging for the health. But here is proof that agricultural technology can also be a boon when it comes to growing crops. Bio-fortified crops are the latest innovation to hit Indian agriculture. Soon India may be getting access to zinc rich rice or iron fortified corn. India has a massive problem of malnutrition. Lack of food security is also a pressing issue. Nutrition needs to be administered through crops if the problem of malnourishment has to be eliminated. Millions of Indians are suffering from malnourishment and under-nutrition. It is only through bio-fortified crops that this massive pitfall can be prevented and stopped.
India has attained the dismal status of being the top country where the growth of children is stunted due to factors such as malnutrition, according to leading experts. At a global conference on malnutrition in children in Rwanda, respected scientist M. S. Swaminathan indicated that 61.7 million children in India suffer from stunted growth on account of malnutrition. The second country which has the most malnourished children is Nigeria with about 11 million such cases. India now ranks among such indices along with less developed nations and it is only through massive and concentrated efforts and action plan that this problem can be eliminated. Nutrient rich crops can be the perfect solution to this problem.
$40 million has been allocated by the government to develop and promote nutrient rich, bio-fortified crops for India’s poor and malnourished. CGIAR ( Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) has started a project called Harvest Plus. As per this new initiative, 7 crops are being bio-fortified namely pearl millet, bean, cassava, maize, pearl millet, rice, sweet potato and wheat. In India, 3 important bio-fortified crops are being released. Pearl millet fortified with iron which is mildew resistant and drought tolerant was released in 2012. Zinc fortified rice which is disease and pest resistant was released in 2013. In the same year, zinc fortified wheat was also released.
Iron rich pearl millet has already been grown in about a few hundred acres of land. Zinc rich rice is another good option. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute has developed this variety and released it in the year 2013. The Philippines International Rice Research Institute is aiming at releasing zinc rich rice in regions such as Indonesia and India apart from its own country. Zinc rich wheat will soon be released in Pakistan.
Nirmal Seeds is the name of the Indian firm which is working in Africa for developing iron rich pearl millet. Bio-fortified grains cost as much as normal grains, yet they are much more nutritious. Another massive advantage of bio-fortified crops is that they are high yielding. This ensures that there will be no variance in the production rates. Conventional plant breeding is used to develop bio-fortified crops. No types of genetic modification procedures are used in any way to treat these crops. They are perfectly safe to eat. This is why bio-fortified crops could pave the way for massive revolution in food technology.
Principles of natural variation have been used in plant breeding to produce these crops. The seeds of these crops are stored in central seed banks. It was early success with vitamin A imbued or orange rich sweet potato that spurred researchers to develop these bio-fortified crops. In 2013, Harvest Plus was able to reach 7 countries and over 1.3 million farmers. By the end of this year, over 2.3 million farmers would be planting and growing bio-fortified crops.
What is really positive and encouraging is that in less than 30 years, zinc rich rice can reduce malnourishment in children below 5 years of age by 85% in countries like India. Bio-fortification guidelines are also being developed to ensure disciplined cultivation of these crops. While other solutions are needed to tackle the menace of malnourishment, bio-fortification of food crops is a good initiative which can help the process as well. Harvest Plus could well be the answer to India’s prayers.
