ROLE OF ZINCATED WHEAT IN REDUCING HUNGER

1. w.pfeiffer@cgiar.org
Wolfgang H. Pfeiffer
Developing and Delivering Zinc Wheat: The Role of Wheat in Reducing Hidden Hunger

2. The 21st Century faces Major Food Security Challenges

3. Environmental degradation Nitrogen
Algae growth from fertilizer N
Sea of Cortez, Mexico
Source: I. Ortiz-Monasterio

4. The loss of Genetic Resources

5. 1987
2003
A dwindling resources base Water
Alvaro Obregon Dam Yaqui Valley, Sonora Mexico

6. 2 billion people in the developing world are iron deficient
Women and children are the
primary victims
Micronutrient Deficiency
Wolfgang H PFEIFFER
Hidden Hunger
2 billion+ affected
Photo: C. Hotz

7. HarvestPlus - an interdisciplinary, global alliance of more than 200 scientific and implementation partners in over 40 countries that seeks to reduce hidden hunger and provide micronutrients directly through … high-yielding, high-profit varieties of key staple foods that they eat
HarvestPlus is a joint venture between two CGIAR Centers, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) based in Cali, Colombia and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) based in Washington, D.C.
addressed by

8. What can We do now?
•Diversify the diet
expensive & out of reach for many
•Fortify Food e.g. with iron, iodine
need access to the market - buy processed food
•Provide Supplements e.g. vitamin A, iron, zinc
need access to the health care system - high delivery cost

9. What can Biofortification do?
•Develop wheat, rice, maize, cassava and other staples packed with additional vitamins or minerals….
•Nutritional benefits coming from the crops, harvest after harvest, with no additional costs
•Reach those who are not reached by other nutrition interventions

10. HarvestPlus Impact & Product Pathway
Development of Crop Product Concepts
Discovery: HPlus I 2004-2008
Determine Cost /Benefit compared to other Interventions
Identify Target Populations & Staple food consumption
Setting Nutrient Target Levels
Screening & Determine Breeding Feasibility

11. Initial Target Areas for Zinc dense Wheat
Baseline Micronutrient Level in Commercial Crop 25 μgg-1
Target Increment to be added
12 μgg-1
ME1: Temperate Irrigated High Production NWPZ
ME5: Irrigated High Temperate Stress EGPZ

12. % of Physiologic Requirement1) for Zinc achieved by different Levels of +12ppm Zinc Wheat Intake
Consumed g/day
% Requirement
1) Woman in child bearing age

13. Genetic Variation for Zinc & Iron in Wheat
Iron μgg-1
Zinc μgg-1
Variation to surpass the target in wild relative species & synthetic wheat
+
Lack of genetic variation in adapted, high yielding genotypes
-

14. Cakmak et al., 2009
Endosperm
Aleurone
Embryo
High Zinc Wheat
Low Zinc
Co-localization
Protein
Zinc
Iron
Amino Acids

15. HarvestPlus Impact & Product Pathway
Nutrition Retention and Bioavailability
Nutritional Efficacy Studies on Human Subjects
Crop Development
Development: HPlus II 2009-2013
GxE Performance Testing in Target Countries

16. HarvestPlus Impact & Product Pathway
Release C
Seed Production Launch | Test Marketing
Delivery: HPlus III 2014 - 2018
Advocacy
Delivery | Commercialization Marketing
Awareness | Demand Creation Acceptability Studies
Market & Product Development
Shakti man

17. Q #1: Can breeding increase nutrients to levels that improve nutrition?
Will Biofortification Work?

18. Cassava
Vitamin A
Nigeria & DRC
Beans
Iron
Rwanda & DRC
Maize
Vitamin A
Zambia
Release Dates for Crops for Africa & Asia
2007
Sweetpotato
Vitamin A
Uganda
Pearl Millet Iron
India
Rice
Zinc
Bangladesh
Wheat
Zinc
India | Pakistan 2015
2013
2012
2013
2012
2011
2013
2012

19. Biofortified crops released in 27 countries
18 in Africa, 4 in Asia, 5 in LAC
In-testing in 43 countries
26 in Africa, 8 in Asia, 9 in LAC
4 Vita-A , 5 Iron , 4 Zinc Crops
Sorghum
Banana Plantain
Cowpea
Potato
Lentil

20. Q #2: Are the extra nutrients bioavailable at sufficient levels to improve micronutrient status?
Will Biofortification Work?

21. How do we know zinc wheat works?
2008 -
2011
2009 -
2010
2014 -
2015
Sangam Vihar, New Delhi Bangalore
Children 4-6 years &
Women in child bearing age
School children in Bangalore
n=1500 women & 1500 children
per group x 2 groups
n=150 per group x 3 groups
New Delhi; JHU & Subhart i Medical
College
ETH & St . John’s Medical College
Zinc wheat contributes a significant proportion of the Zinc EAR in
the target population P
Zinc in biofortified wheat is bioavailable,absorbed and utilized P
Does zinc wheat consumption improve zinc status of women and
children?

22. Q #3: Will farmers adopt zinc wheat and will consumers buy & eat in sufficient quantities?
Will Biofortification Work?

23. > 1.5 million farming households reached 2011 - 2013
> 7.5 million farming household members consuming
Delivery / Commercialization
> 1.1 million farming households targeted in 2014

24. Crop Development , Testing & Commercialization Partnership
Public Sector: DWR – (ICAR) IARI - Delhi PAU - Ludhiana BHU - Varanasi CIMMYT
Private Sector:
Ankur Seeds, Ajeet Seeds,
Astha Beej Ltd, Bayer Crop Science, DCM Shriram Ltd., Krishidhan, Mahyco, Nirmal Seeds, Nuziveedu Seeds, Pantnagar Tarai Agri Seeds, Rasi Seeds, Shakati Vardhak, Sri Sai Seeds, Shriyanshi Seeds

25. What is the Way Forward?
Photo: Neil Palmer (CIAT)

26. HarvestPlus III will demonstrate the viability of biofortification as a global solution and lay foundation for scale by
HarvestPlus III 2014-2018 Strategic Priorities
Research, communicate and advocate strategically
Strengthen the pipeline of biofortified varieties
Scale up delivery in target countries and expand delivery to new countries

27. HarvestPlus Phase III Strategic Priorities
Scale up delivery in target countries and expand delivery to new countries
Target Countries
•Implement country level business plans
Expansion Countries
•Scale up delivery of prioritized crops in target geographies through partnerships
•Develop & deploy technical assistance capabilities to support partnerships

28. Quick Assessment of the Relative Role/Value of Main Partner Groups

29. Breed competitive crops to target nutrient levels and broader applicability across agro-ecological zones & uses
Molecular markers & diagnostic tool development
Zinc as core trait / non- negotiable trait → endorsed by CG-Center DGs
Anti-nutrients & promoters Phytate / Phytase …
Strengthen the pipeline of biofortified varieties
•Successfully develop next waves of crops
•Enhance knowledge base & deliver improved enabling technologies
•Mainstream biofortification
•Improve bioavailability of zinc and iron
HarvestPlus Phase III Strategic Priorities

30. Thank You!

32. Wheat India – Eastern Gangetic Plains Zone
Test marketing of 5 zinc wheat leads - 1000 mini- kits in 2013 -2014; additional leads are in testing