WIREDGOV

The prestigious World Food Prize has this year been awarded to 4 scientists from the DFID-funded international agriculture research organisation, the CGIAR.  They were recognised for their ground-breaking work on biofortified foods, in particular a Vitamin A-enriched sweet potato which has helped millions of people beat malnutrition.

The award-winning team of researchers – which includes 2 African & 2 female scientists – set out not only to create biofortified crops which could dramatically improve nutrition, but also to raise the profile of these nutritious foods in Africa and encourage people to eat them.

More than 2m households in 10 African countries are now planting & consuming the team’s sweet potato. Other crops which have been developed by CGIAR include biofortified beans, rice, wheat, pearl millet, cassava and maize.  An estimated 10m people will avoid malnutrition & disease as a direct result of the researchers’ work on biofortification.

DIFD:  World Food Prize 2016 awarded to DFID-funded scientists

Biofortification of Staple Food Crops

Biofortification of Staple Food Crops: Six Questions - HarvestPlus

WHO:  Biofortification of staple crops

UK aid poised to wipe out smallholder agriculture - Oakland Institute