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Vol. 12(37), pp. 5559-5566, 11 September, 2013
DOI: 10.5897/AJB12.560
ISSN 1684-5315 ©2013 Academic Journals
http://www.academicjournals.org/AJB
African Journal of Biotechnology
Review
The role of biofortification in the reduction of
micronutrient food insecurity in developing countries
Uchendu Florence Ngozi
Department of Health Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria, 14/16 Ahmadu Bellow way,
Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
Accepted 31 July, 2013
Micronutrient malnutrition is a global public health problem, especially in developing countries. Hunger
and starvation which are causative agents of malnutrition are occasioned by poor food supply and low
income purchasing power for the expensive animal sources of micronutrients. Access to adequate, safe
and nutritious food required for a healthy and active life by all people at all times is limited, resulting in
micronutrient food insecurity. The quantity and quality of food available for consumption to people
determine their micronutrient security level. Inadequate quantity and quality of food available for
consumption are causative agents for macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies. Bio-fortification is
an emerging method to increase the micronutrient values of crops in order to eradicate hidden hunger
in developing nations. This paper therefore describes the contribution of biofortification in fighting
micronutrient malnutrition in developing countries.
Key words: Micronutrient food insecurity, biofortification, developing nations, Micronutrients.
INTRODUCTION
Food insecurity and malnutrition in developing nations is
an issue of global concern (IELRC, 2010). The global
population size is currently 6 billion, and it is rising
rapidly. The United Nations estimates that the world’s
population will grow to reach 8.1 billion by 2030
(InfoResources, 2006). In 2007, the number of hungry
people in the world was said to have increased by 75
million because of rising food prices (FAO, 2008a). The
world’s hungry people are put at 963 million (Ruane,
2010). Meeting global food requirements at that point will
necessitate an increase in production by 50%. If natural
resources are continually used the way they are today,
they will not suffice to fuel this increase (InfoResources,
2006).
Developing nations are having challenges of provision
of adequate food for their population. For example,
Nigeria is in dire need to feed its teaming population of
140 million that is increasing at an annual rate of at least
2% (Egesi, 2010). Poverty, hunger, starvation and
malnutrition are grossly prevalent in developing countries.
The rate of urbanization is very high in Nigeria. Many
youths are rushing to mega cities in search of white collar
jobs yet the jobs in these cities are not enough to go
round due to population explosion, for example in Lagos
state, many youths have resorted to riding a tricycle
called "Okada" to make ends meet due to lack of job. At
the end, they resort to riding “Okada” which is becoming
a road menace despite the alternative means of trans-
portation they provide. Yet these are the productive men
that can engage in farming in the rural areas where we
have arable farm lands. In urban Nigeria and most of
Sub-Saharan Africa, employment in sectors that pay
regular wages, such as manufacturing industries,
accounts for less than 10% of total employment (Rondinelli
E-mail: uchendu_flo@yahoo.com. Tel: +2348037065874.
5560 Afr. J. Biotechnol.
and Kasarda, 1993). The population of many villages now
is made up of aged men and women who cannot farm. If
they do at all, they maintain small farms around their
compounds. So what is going on in most Nigerian
villages is subsistence farming and not commercial
farming and that can only feed a household and not a
population. Even the few farm produces that are avai-
lable are transported to the urban areas where they will
yield more money for the farmer. This makes the left over
farm in the villages expensive, sometimes more than
what the prices are in the towns.prices in the towns. Even
the farm produces are not enough for the teaming
populace in the urban areas due to over population. Due
to the high population of urban areas most of the
available lands for farming are inhabited including
swamps and canals that would have been viable for local
rice farming and vegetables.
Consequently, there is a growing incidence of hunger
and malnutrition both in the rural and urban areas even
though the former is worst hit. Both rural and urban poor
people suffer from food insecurity and poor nutrition,
caused in large measure by poverty and lack of
nutritional balance in the diet they can afford (Tonukari
and Omotor, 2010). Hunger and starvation are some of
the reasons why some people are sick in many
developing countries. It becomes imperative to increase
farm yields in terms of quantity and quality to be able to
ameliorate the pang of hunger and starvation in the
country. Biotechnology which aims at increasing crop
yield, early maturation of farm produces and enriching
crops, livestock and fisheries with macro and micro
nutrients is one way of eradicating malnutrition in deve-
loping nations.
The Nigerian Senate enacted the Biosafety Bill into law
on June 1, 2011, after several years of stakeholders’
discussion and debate (Ebegba and Gidado, 2011). The
passing of the bill is a major step towards the safe and
responsible use of biotechnology crops in the country.
CONTRIBUTION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN FIGHTING
MICRONUTRIENT MALNUTRITION
Biofortification is the genetic or agronomic breeding of
crops to enhance their nutritional composition (Uchendu,
2012). Commercial cultivation of genetically modified
(GM) crops has been in existence since 1996. About 22
countries are growing GM crops. These include USA,
Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Paraguay, India, South
Africa, Uruguay, Australia, Mexico, Romania, the
Philippines, Spain, Colombia, Iran, Honduras, Portugal,
Germany, France, Czech Republic, and Nigeria.
Genetic modification technology can boost yields of
crops such as cassava, potato, yam and maize, provide
resistance to pests and diseases, improve crops’ nutritional
content and increase their shelf life (Bimbo, 2011).
Currently, the most widespread GM crops in the market
are genetically modified varieties of soy, maize, cotton,
and canola. An analogous GM rice variety was planted
for the first time in 2005, in Iran (InfoResources, 2006).
Maize is the most widely-consumed staple food crop in
Zambia, but the regular white variety lacks micronu-
trients, and nearly 50 percent of Zambian children under
five suffer from vitamin A deficiency. The improved maize
varieties released by HarvestPlus in Zambia can meet up
to 25 percent of daily vitamin A needs of the children
(Okello, 2013).
Presently, Nigerian scientists and partners are conduc-
ting field trials on genetically modified cowpea and cassa-
va (Flake and David, 2010; Ebegba and Gidado, 2011).
These are among the important major staple crops in
Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole. Table 1
shows the type of genetically modified crops that are
being researched upon in various countries. Successful
research and development on these crops will result in
plenty quality foods and low level food insecurity in
developing and some developed countries.
NUTRITIONAL CONTRIBUTION OF GENETICALLY
MODIFIED FOODS (GMFS)
Eventual availability of genetically modified (GM) crops
into the market will reduce food prices, create variety and
plenty food for people to eat in terms of calorie. This will
lead to national, state and household food security thus,
preventing macro- and micro-nutrient food insecurity.
Biotechnology crops only appeared in the market six
years ago (James, 2001). Subsequent dates for release
of more bio-fortified crops by Harvest Plus are as shown
in Table 2.
Biofortified cassava released in Nigeria by the Nigerian
National Varietal Release Committee, the vitamin A
cassava varieties are named UMUCASS 36, UMUCASS
37, and UMUCASS 38; and are recognized as IITA
genotypes TMS 01/1368, TMS 01/1412, and TMS
01/1371, respectively (Obinna, 2012). They can provide
upto 25% of the EAR for women and preschool children
(Bouis, 2003). Varieties of biofortified orange-fleshed
sweetpotato were introduced in Mozambique and
Uganda in 2002 and 2007 (Bouis, 2012). Provitamin A
maize varieties that can provide up to 25 percent of the
EAR for adult women and preschool children were
released in Zambia and Nigeria in 2012. Large-scale
delivery will begin in 2013. Varieties that can provide up
to 50 percent of the EAR are in testing (Bouis et al.
2013).
1. High iron beans have been released in Rwanda and
DRC; varieties that can provide an additional 30 percent
of the iron EAR for women and preschool children are
being disseminated to 250,000 households.
2. High zinc rice is in varietal release testing in Bangladesh
and India. Candidate varieties would provide 25% of the
Uchendu 5561
Table 1. GM crops being researched upon in developing countries.
Country
Research area
People’s Republic of China
Rice, cotton, maize, wheat, and vegetables
India
Rice, maize, cotton, citrus, coffee, mangrove,
vanilla, and cardamom
Indonesia
Rice, cassava, maize, cotton, soybean
Malaysia
Rice, papaya, orchid, chili, rubber, and oil palm
Pakistan
Rice, cotton, and chickpea
Philippines
Rice, maize, coconut, mango, and papaya
Thailand
Rice, shrimp, cassava, dairy cows, fruits, and
vegetables
Vietnam
Rice, maize, potato, sweet potato, cassava, soybean, sugarcane, and cotton
Nigeria
Cowpea, maize and cassava
Asia
Rice, tropical maize, wheat,Sorghum, millet, banana, cassava, groundnut, oilseed, potato,
Sweet potato, and soybean.
Zhang (2000), Sharman (2000), Dart et al. (2001), Nair and Abu Bakar (2001), Zafar (2001), de la Cruz, (2000), Tanticharoen (2000),
Tuong-Van Nguyen (2000).
Table 2. Release dates for biofortified crops by HarvestPlus.
Crop
Nutrient
Country
Year
Sweet Potato
Vitamin A
Uganda, Mozambique
2007
Cassava
Vitamin A
DR Congo, Nigeria
2011
Bean
Iron
DR Congo
2012
Pearl millet
Iron
India
2012
Maize
Vitamin A
Zambia, Nigeria
2012
Rice
Zinc
Bangladesh, India
2013
Wheat
Zinc
India, Pakistan
2013
Levitt (2011).
zinc EAR for women and preschool children.
3. High zinc wheat is being testing in multilocation trials in
both India and Pakistan and the first release is expected
in India in 2013 (Bouis, 2003).
Biotechnology’s ability to eliminate malnutrition and
hunger through production of crops resistant to pests and
diseases, having longer shelf-lives, refined textures and
flavours, higher yields per units of land and time, tolerant
to adverse weather and soil conditions, and generate
employment, cannot be over-emphasized (Tonukari and
Omotor, 2010). Cassava and white maize are high in
carbohydrates but lacks essential micronutrients such as
vitamin A.
GM crops have been used to give increased nutritional
values to staples. Many of them have been loaded with
vitamins and minerals used in fighting ’hidden hunger’.
Hidden hungers are as a result of lack of vitamins and
mineral needed by the body for physiological functions.
Hidden hunger can result in micronutrient deficiencies
like vitamin A deficiency, Iron deficiency, zinc deficiency,
etc. Biotechnology can be used to alter conventional crop
varieties to enhance their micronutrient and protein
contents (Mitchell, 2001).
Biofortification provides a truly feasible means of
reaching malnourished populations in relatively remote
rural areas, delivering naturally-fortified foods to
population groups with limited access to commercially-
marketed fortified foods that are more readily available in
urban areas (Bouis, 2003).
BIOFORTIFICATION OF CROPS WITH VITAMINS AND
MINERALS
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin playing an important
role in vision, bone growth, reproduction, and in the main-
tenance of healthy skin, hair, and mucous membranes
5562 Afr. J. Biotechnol.
Figure 1. Yellow-colored biofortified cassava reveals the β-
carotene content. Howe; Maziya-Dixon and Tanumihardjo
(2009).
Figure 2. Golden Rice.
(FAO/WHO 2002). Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a
global public health problem in 118 countries, especially
in Africa and South-East Asia (Rostami et al., 2007).
Vitamin A deficiency is the most common cause of
childhood blindness. It is estimated that 228 million
children are affected and 500 000 children become
partially or totally blind every year as a result of vitamin A
deficiency (WHO/FAO, 2003). The geographical areas
most affected by vitamin A deficiency are tropical areas
where cassava is a staple crop, for example, Brazil,
Africa, and Asia (Shrimpton, 1989). Bio-fortification of
staple crops with pro-vitamin A carotenoids is an emer-
ging strategy to address the vitamin A status of the poor
(Tanumihardjo, 2008; Tanumihardjo et al., 2008).
Bio-fortification breeds crops that are loaded with
vitamins and minerals in their seeds and roots. A new
approach also supported by the Gates Foundation, World
Bank and the European Commission is Harvest Plus, a
biofortification program of the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research. Netherland is taking
a leading role here. An example is Golden rice (Figure
2), a bioengineered pro-vitamin A enriched rice in India,
Philippine and Brazil. Up to 73% of energy intake in Asian
countries can be from rice. Rice is a staple food in most
West African countries, enjoyed by both children and
Adults e. g Nigeria. So enrichment of rice with vitamin A
has the potential to increase vitamin A intake of vul-
nerable groups in developing countries. It was suggested
that vitamin A contribution from golden rice will provide
50% of the RDA. Biofortification of rice with iron, zinc
and lutein are possible. Many research Institutes are
developing Golden rice which will have higher vitamin A
and iron contents (Mitchell, 2001) .Genes are being
inserted into rice to make it produce beta-carotene, which
the body converts into vitamin A (FAO, 2010). This
Golden rice is capable of reducing vitamin A deficiency,
anaemia and zinc deficiency which causes childhood and
maternal mortality and morbidity. Golden rice was
developed by researchers in Germany and Switzerland in
1990s with financial assistance from Rockefeller
Foundation (Mackey, 2002). This technology has been
transferred to India, South East Asia, China, Africa, and
Latin America.
More than 250 million Africans rely on the starchy root
crop cassava (Manihot esculenta) as their staple source
of calories. A typical cassava-based diet, however,
provides less than 30% of the minimum daily requirement
for protein and only 10 to 20% of that for iron, zinc, and
vitamin A (Sayre, 2011). Carotenoid-rich yellow and
orange cassava may be a foodstuff for delivering provi-
tamin A to vitamin A depleted populations (Figure 1).
Biofortified cassava could alleviate some aspects of food
insecurity in developing countries if widely adopted
(Montagnac et al. 2009)). Cassava is a target for biofor-
tification because of its importance as a staple crop. It is
a staple food and animal feed in tropical and subtropical
Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Approximate-ly 500
million people depend on it as a major carbohy-drate
(energy) source, in part because it yields more energy
per hectare than other major crops (Table 3). Cassava is
grown in areas where mineral and vitamin deficiencies
are widespread, especially in Africa. While cassava was
first introduced into Africa (Congo) by Portuguese traders
from Brazil in the 16th century, maize was introduced into
Africa in the 1500s. These two crops are staple foods in
most African countries. Cassava is the primary food
staple consumed in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(D.R. Congo) and in the humid forest zones of Nigeria.
While recent nutritional data are not available for D.R.
Congo, a 1998 national nutrition survey indicated that the
prevalence of low serum retinol among children 6 to 36
months of age was a tragic 61% (Harvestplus, 2012). In
Nigeria, the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in pre-
school children is 29.5%. In both countries, cassava
Uchendu 5563
Table 3. Maximum recorded yield and food energy of important tropical staple crops.a
Crop
Annual yield (tons/hectare)
Daily energy production (kJ/hectare)
Fresh cassava root
71
1045
Maize grainb
20
836
Fresh sweet potato root
65
752
Rice grain
26
652
Sorghum grain
13
477
Wheat grain
12
460
Banana fruit
39
334
aAdapted from EL-Sharkawy (2003); bAll grains reported as dry. Montagnac, J. A., Davis, C. R. and Tanumihardjo, S. A.
(2009).
could be a highly effective delivery channel for provitamin
A to populations at risk of vitamin A deficiency.
HarvestPlus estimates that 10 years after the release of
vitamin A fortified cassava, 20 million people in D.R.
Congo, and 5 million in Nigeria, will be consuming provi-
tamin A-rich cassava. Cassava is a major carbohydrate
staple in Nigeria. It is used in making different delicacies
such as eba/garri, fufu/akpu, abacha, etc. The average
provitamin A content of cassava is 0.5 (μg/g) and
HarvestPlus targeted value after biofortifi-cation is15.5
(μg/g). This will provide about 7, 750 μg RE/kg. Other
African countries that are targeted to benefit from this
improved vitamin A content of cassava are Republic of
Congo, Central Africa Republic, Gabon, Cameroon,
Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea Conakry,
Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Angola.
The importance of biofortification of cassava can be
seen in its wide production and consumption across
African countries. Currently, about half of the world
production of cassava is in Africa. Cassava is cultivated
in around 40 African countries, stretching through a wide
belt from Madagascar in the Southeast to Senegal and to
Cape Verde in the Northwest. Around 70 percent of
Africa's cassava output is harvested in Nigeria, the
Congo and Tanzania (IFAD and FAO, 2000). Throughout
the forest and transition zones of Africa, cassava is either
a primary staple or a secondary food staple.
Cassava is a primary food staple in the Republic of
Congo and secondary food staple in Côte d'Ivoire and
Uganda (Nweke, 2012). Maize is the most important
cereal crop in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and an
important staple food for more than 1.2 billion people in
SSA and Latin America (IITA, 2009). Worldwide
consumption of maize is more than 116 million tons, with
Africa consuming 30% and SSA 21%. However, Lesotho
has the largest consumption per capita with 174 kg per
year. Eastern and Southern Africa uses 85% of its
production as food, while Africa as a whole uses 95%,
compared to other world regions that use most of its
maize as animal feed. Ninety percent of white maize
consumption is in Africa and Central America (IITA,
2009). A marginal nutrient status increases the risk of
morbidity and mortality. Therefore, improving the
nutritional value of cassava could alleviate some aspects
of hidden hunger, that is, subclinical nutrient deficiencies
without overt clinical signs of malnutrition (Montagnac et
al., 2009). The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have
supported a global effort to develop cassava germplasm
enriched with bioavailable nutrients since 2005.
The BioCassava Plus initiative has 6 major objectives
namely to increase the minerals zinc and iron, vitamins A
and E, protein contents and decrease cyanogen
content, delay postharvest deterioration, and develop
virus-resistant varieties. Using hybridisation and selective
breeding, researchers in Nigeria have developed three
new yellow varieties of cassava (Figure 3) that naturally
produce a higher level of beta-carotene, which they say
will help fight malnutrition caused by vitamin A deficiency
in the region (Busani, 2011). Orange-fleshed sweet
potato has been genetically enhanced to be virus
resistant and is being promoted to combat vitamin A
deficiency in Kenya, Burkina Faso, Uganda, and South
Africa (Vebamba, 2004; Kapinga, et al. 2004; van-
Stuijvenberg, 2005). This project has been on in Kenya
since 2001 (Mackey, 2002). Papaya (Pawpaw) which
was almost decimated in Hawaii was genetically
enhanced to resist the ring-spot virus. This virus-resistant
technology has also been transferred to papayas in
South East Asia, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam (Mackey, 2002).
Papaya is rich in beta-carotene and its consumption can
help to eradicate vitamin A deficiency.
Maize is a preferred staple in Africa where the average
person consumes over 100 grams a day. Vitamin A
deficiency affects over 32% of the African population.
Thus, increasing the pro-vitamin A content of maize
cultivars may greatly improve the nutrition of millions of
Africans (HarvestPlus, 2011).
Private sector collaboration developed the technology
to insert the enzymes of phytoene synthase pathway into
Brassica napus (Canola). Concentrations of 1000 to 1500
µg Carotenoids/g fresh weight of seeds were achieved
(Chewmaker et al., 1999). The same technology has
been transferred to different species of Canola known as
5564 Afr. J. Biotechnol.
Figure 3. Biofortified cassava. Bill and Melinda Gate
Foundation.
Brassica juncea (Mustard) (Mackey, 2002). Mustard is
widely grown in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The oil
from the mustard seed is expected to be an excellent
source of beta-carotene which can be used in fighting
vitamin A deficiency in a vulnerable population.
Zinc
Zinc content of cereals or food grains have been
increased in India by either developing crop cultivars with
high concentration of zinc in grains or by adequate zinc
fertilization of crops grown on zinc-deficient soils
(Rajendra, 2010). Zinc deficiency in preschool children
and pregnant women is a public health problem. It can
lead to stunted and retarded mental growth. FAO
estimated that over 68% of Africa’s population is affected
by zinc deficiency. Zinc is a secondary nutrient being
added into maize by HarvestPlus scientists with
considerable success (HarvestPlus, 2011). More than
450 000 infant deaths were recorded in 2004 as a result
of zinc deficiency (Rajendra, 2010; Black et al., 2008).
Zinc deficiency and Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) coexist in
malnourished children (Rahman, 2002). Zinc deficiency
limits the bioavailability of vitamin A (Uchendu and
Atinmo, 2011).
Rice has demonstrated its ability to be loaded with
micronutrients such as vitamin A, zinc, and iron through
the work of International agencies, such as Harvest Plus,
Humanitarian Board and the International Rice Research
Institute in Philippines (Guerta-Quijano et al., 2002).
Bioavailability of iron in rice has been increased by
inserting a gene for heat resistant phytase from fungal
sources that degrades phytate in plants (Bhat and
Vasanthi, 2005). This might enhance zinc bioavailability
in rice. Impact assessment of this rice will show the
extent of the contribution to zinc RDA of the target
population. Golden rice is bio-fortified with pro-vitamin A
(beta-carotene) and zinc and is due to be rolled out in the
Philippines in 2013 (Levitt, 2011).
EFFICACY TRIALS WITH BIOFORTIFIED FOOD
Many studies evaluating the efficacy of bio-fortified crops
are on-going while some have been completed in
countries like Mexico, Nigeria and Rwanda. High iron bio-
fortified rice fed to a control group over a period of 9
months was shown to marginally improve the iron status
of non-anaemic women in the Philippines (Egli, 2011).
Beans have higher iron content than rice and this can be
doubled through traditional plant breeding (Beebe et al.,
2000).
The major drawback of beans is the low iron
bioavailability due to the relatively high content of phytic
acid and polyphenols inhibitors (Egli, 2011). About 2%
iron absorption has been reported from single meal
isotope studies (Donangelo et al., 2003; Beiseigel et al.,
2007). Other studies have also confirmed that both phytic
acid and polyphenols contribute to the reduced absorp-
tion of iron in bio-fortified beans (Petry et al., 2010).
To achieve high amounts of iron absorption from bio-
fortified beans, breeding should also focus on reducing
phytic acid and polyphenol content. The ability of high β-
caro-tene cassava to prevent vitamin A deficiency has
been determined in vitamin A depleted Mongalian gerbils
(Meriones unguiculatus). Biofortified cassava adequately
maintained vitamin A status and was as efficacious as β -
carotene supplementation in the gerbil model (Howe et
al., 2009).
Biofortified pearl millet bred to contain more iron has
been found to provide the recommended dietary require-
ment of iron for young children. In the study, iron-deficient
Indian pre-school children under three years who were
fed traditionally-prepared porridges (sheera, uppama)
and flat bread (roti) made from iron-rich pearl millet flour
absorbed substantially more iron than from ordinary pearl
millet flour, enough to meet their physiological require-
ments. The iron-rich pearl millet also contained more
zinc, which was similarly absorbed in sufficient amounts
to meet the children’s full daily zinc requirements.
Lack of zinc in children can lead to stunting and
impaired immune response against common infections
(Kodkany et al. 2013). In another study, marginally iron-
deficient Beninese women who ate a traditionally
prepared iron-rich pearl millet paste were found to absorb
twice the amount of iron than paste made from ordinary
pearl millet with lower iron content.
The results indicated that less than 160g of iron-rich
pearl millet flour daily is enough to provide Beninese
women aged 18-45 with more than 70 percent of their
daily iron needs. The equivalent amount of the ordinary
pearl millet used in the study provided only 20 percent of
their iron needs. Women, generally, have higher iron needs
than children (Colin, 2013).
CHALLENGES FACING GENETICALLY MODIFIED
FOODS
A recent forecast estimates that biofortification is more
cost-effective than supplementation or fortification in
reducing the burden of micronutrient malnutrition,
especially in Asia (Meenakshi et al., 2010). Despite this
assertion, genetically modified foods are facing
challenges of rejection by many poor developing
countries. Many of them have doubts regarding the
benefits and the safety of biotechnology. In many poor
countries the knowhow with regard to biotechnology is
very limited, and discussions on risks and advantages
are virtually non-existent (InfoResources, 2006). There is
also the fear that impacts on health and the environment
are not sufficiently demonstrated. For example, Friends
of the Earth Nigeria (FoEN), are concerned that bio-
fortified cassava undermines biodiversity (Bafana, 2011).
Others are worried about the risk of uncontrolled
crossbreeding with traditional varieties. They could also
be a possibility of toxicity due to overconsumption of
these crops and fortified and natural sources of the
nutrients. However, this fear is allayed because con-
sumption of beta-carotene unlike vitamin A does not give
rise to toxicity because it dose-dependent.
For GM foods to be accepted worldwide, these issues
must be addressed. Research results must be dissemi-
nated through publications, nutrition education and com-
munication, etc. The positive influence of GM crops on
the safety and health of humans, animals, and natural
environment must be proved. In the past, GM crops were
mainly cultivated and used to produce animal fodders
and textiles while small proportion was processed into
food. Now that GM foods are emerging as one of the
global sources of fighting hunger, starvation and
malnutrition, their nutritional quality/value must march
that of their natural varieties and even surpass it. The
nutritional safety of the products must be guaranteed.
To achieve these, there must be collaboration between
the stakeholders to subject biotech produces to
continuous and extensive laboratory analyses, evaluation
and impact studies to investigate whether the products
caused demonstrable effects on the consumers better
than the traditional varieties. This will remove doubts
regarding the benefits and the safety of biotechnology
foods. However, the G8 countries have pledged to
improve nutritional outcomes in about 50 million poor
Africans and reduce child stunting by “support[ing] the
accelerated release, adoption, and consumption of
biofortified crop varieties, crop diversification, and related
technologies to improve nutritional quality of food in
Africa (HarvestPlus, 2012).
Comprehensive research programmes on genetically
modified foods are now going on in Argentina, Brazil,
China, India and South Africa. Other developing coun-
Uchendu 5565
tries that are implementing biotechnological research
programmes on GM crops with a view to commercializing
them include Egypt, Indonesia, and Costa Rica. Other
countries should follow suit.
CONCLUSION
Biotechnology is an emerging way to fight malnutrition. In
order to realize this objective, genetically modified foods
must be affordable for it to substitute the expensive
animal products in vulnerable groups. The original
physical properties of the traditional crops must not be
affected such as taste, flavour, texture, etc.
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