Biofortification

About 2 billion people around the world suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, also known as “hidden hunger.”  This lack of critical vitamins and minerals can have long-term, irreversible health effects that affect well-being and long-term development prospects.

Biofortification is a technique that uses conventional breeding methods to produce more nutritious crops—with a higher content of vitamin A, zinc, iron, or other micronutrients than standard crop varieties. Biofortified crops already contributing to healthier diets in Asia and Africa include vitamin A sweet potatoes, zinc rice, and iron beans. IFPRI’s HarvestPlus program leads this work. IFPRI’s biofortification research is closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 and SDG 3.