title: [Methodology for selecting areas for biofortified crop intervention].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify geographical areas in Latin America and the Caribbean where biofortification of staple crops, such as beans, corn, rice, cassava, and sweet potatoes, might help reduce nutritional deficiencies in the Region.
  
  
  METHODS
  A geographic information system (GIS) was produced with records on nutritional risks, crop production, food consumption, and demographic and socioeconomic data, for 11 countries in the Region. Four case studies were conducted (in Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico) using exploratory and descriptive analysis of thematic maps that were superimposed and compared to reveal overlapping and spatial patterns, thereby identifying areas suited to intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Guatemala, the highest rates of nutritional risk, bean production, and population density overlapped in the northeast and southeast areas. In Mexico, spatial distribution of the highest risk levels for nutrition, poverty, and corn production were concentrated in the central and southern municipalities. In Bolivia, bean production tended to be in the eastern part of the country, and nutritional risk, in the west. In Colombia, both nutritional risk and cassava production showed wide geographic dispersion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For Guatemala, we propose iron biofortification of beans in the southern parts of the northeast and southeast; for Mexico, amino-acid biofortification of corn in the central and southern municipalities that produce it; for Bolivia, iron and zinc biofortification of beans in the bean-producing areas of Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca, and Tarija; and for Colombia, beta-carotene biofortification of cassava in the Cordoba and Cundinamarca departments.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Agronomía, Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Palmira, Colombia. famonserrate@gmail.com
authors.forename: Fredy A Monserrate
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pachón
authors.forename: Glenn G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Hyman
authors.forename: Andrea L Vesga
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Varela
mesh_terms: D017691:Caribbean Region; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D005527:Food, Fortified; D007843:Latin America