Video Byte:

The role of the 'food industry' in promoting the concept of

biofortification for addressing hidden hunger.
• Current Status
• 189.2 million people are undernourished in India - 14% of the population
• 51.4% of women in reproductive age between 15 to 49 years are anemic
• 34.7% of the children aged under five in India are stunted (too short for their age)
• 20% suffer from wasting, meaning their weight is too low for their height.
• Global Hunger Index ranks India at 101 out of 116 countries.
• Biofortification: An Essential Investment in Nutrition-Proofing the Food Systems
• Biofortification market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 36.8% in the
forecast period 2021 to 2028. The rapidly increasing demand for high nutritional content
foods is the factor for the biofortification market in the forecast period of 2021 to 2028.
• Also, the emerging advancements in technologies as well as increasing investments in
agricultural developments is having a positive impact on the global Biofortification
market. Increasing incidences of nutritional deficiencies as well as the number of
children with malnutrition is expected to fuel the demand for Biofortification.
• Why Biofortification?
• Cost effective, Readily available to resource poor farm HHs, focus on staples
• “First line of defense to disease” – Zinc and Iron biofortification is critical for immunity
to viral including respiratory diseases.
• Our Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi also endorses biofortification as an effective technique
to address widespread micronutrient deficiency which primarily targets low-income
smallholder farming families as no single intervention will address all micronutrient
deficiencies, and biofortification complements several existing interventions
• Case Studies
• Ensuring bioavailability
❖ A randomized controlled trial with 40 iron-deficient children aged two years old
in Northern Karnataka, India, assessed the amount of iron and zinc absorbed
from a mixed-diet that provided <100 g of pearl millet per day. The amount of
iron and zinc absorbed from the iron biofortified pearl millet met 100 percent of
the estimated physiological requirements for children (1-3 years) for both
minerals. Absorption of both minerals was also significantly higher in children
who consumed the biofortified pearl millet variety.
• The stories of farmers/agri ecosystem & biofortification
❖ A farmer feedback study conducted among IPM seed purchasers in rural
Maharashtra in 2013, showed that 83% of pearl millet growers had replaced
their traditional variety with a biofortified one; farmers liked the yield, input use
and other production, processing, and consumption attributes of IPM more than
the regular variety, and 84 percent of the IPM harvest was consumed by the
household. A majority of the farmers were willing to plant IPM again next
season, and plant in more acreage.
• Role of Private sector
• Biofortification can be a USP for processors and millers due to increased health
consciousness, recognition and acceptance among urban population and the growing
market trend towards nutritious food. An increased consumer base in the processing
sector can lead to the expansion of the product portfolio. For example, flakes or puffs
can be made from iron pearl millet to provide healthy alternative snacks.
• Partnerships and collaboration with international and public sector institutions by
private sector companies for inclusion and biofortification development programmes
can lead to sustainable and cost-effective outcomes and improve visibility.
• Ensure supply chain integrity
• Direct farm gate purchase of biofortified produce for processing and labelling/marketing
accordingly by private players
• Designing consumer awareness campaigns and using online marketing to promote
consumption of biofortified crops
• Academia and the knowledge industry could perform their imperative role by framing
policy-level guidelines and engaging in agri-extension activities. The key components of
this role include developing biofortified seeds, conducting efficacy studies, monitoring
improvements in nutritional statuses of target populations and researching on crop
improvement.