title: Is there a place for nutrition-sensitive agriculture?
abstract: The focus of the review paper is to discuss how biotechnological innovations are opening new frontiers to mitigate nutrition in key agricultural crops with potential for large-scale health impact to people in Africa. The general objective of the Africa Biofortified Sorghum (ABS) project is to develop and deploy sorghum with enhanced pro-vitamin A to farmers and end-users in Africa to alleviate vitamin A-related micronutrient deficiency diseases. To achieve this objective the project technology development team has developed several promising high pro-vitamin A sorghum events. ABS 203 events are so far the most advanced and well-characterised lead events with about 12 μg β-carotene/g tissue which would supply about 40-50 % of the daily recommended vitamin A at harvest. Through gene expression optimisation other events with higher amounts of pro-vitamin A, including ABS 214, ABS 235, ABS 239 with 25, 30-40, 40-50 μg β-carotene/g tissue, respectively, have been developed. ABS 239 would provide twice recommended pro-vitamin A at harvest, 50-90 % after 3 months storage and 13-45 % after 6 months storage for children. Preliminary results of introgression of ABS pro-vitamin A traits into local sorghum varieties in target countries Nigeria and Kenya show stable introgression of ABS vitamin A into local farmer-preferred sorghums varieties. ABS gene Intellectual Property Rights and Freedom to Operate have been donated for use royalty free for Africa. Prior to the focus on the current target countries, the project was implemented by fourteen institutions in Africa and the USA. For the next 5 years, the project will complete ABS product development, complete regulatory science data package and apply for product deregulation in target African countries.
authors: Africa Harvest Biotechnology Foundation International,3rd Floor Whitefield Place,School Lane,Westlands,Village market,00621 Nairobi,Kenya.
authors: Florence
authors: F
authors: Wambugu
authors: Africa Harvest Biotechnology Foundation International,3rd Floor Whitefield Place,School Lane,Westlands,Village market,00621 Nairobi,Kenya.
authors: Silas
authors: S
authors: Obukosia
authors: DuPont Pioneer Inc,7250 NW 62nd Avenue,Johnston,IA 50131-0552,USA.
authors: Jim
authors: J
authors: Gaffney
authors: Africa Harvest Biotechnology Foundation International,3rd Floor Whitefield Place,School Lane,Westlands,Village market,00621 Nairobi,Kenya.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Kamanga
authors: DuPont Pioneer Inc,7250 NW 62nd Avenue,Johnston,IA 50131-0552,USA.
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Che
authors: DuPont Pioneer Inc,7250 NW 62nd Avenue,Johnston,IA 50131-0552,USA.
authors: Marc C
authors: MC
authors: Albertsen
authors: DuPont Pioneer Inc,7250 NW 62nd Avenue,Johnston,IA 50131-0552,USA.
authors: Zuo-Yu
authors: ZY
authors: Zhao
authors: DuPont Pioneer Inc,7250 NW 62nd Avenue,Johnston,IA 50131-0552,USA.
authors: Lonnetta
authors: L
authors: Ragland
authors: Institute for Agricultural Research,Ahmadou Bello University,Nigeria.
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Yeye
authors: Kenya Agricultural Research Institute,Kaptagat Rd,Loresho,Nairobi,Kenya.
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Kimani
authors: Institute for Agricultural Research,Ahmadou Bello University,Nigeria.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Aba
authors: National Biotechnology Development Agency,Umaru Musa Ya'adua Way,Lugbe,Airport Road,Abuja,Nigeria.
authors: Rose
authors: R
authors: Gidado
authors: National Biotechnology Development Agency,Umaru Musa Ya'adua Way,Lugbe,Airport Road,Abuja,Nigeria.
authors: B O
authors: BO
authors: Solomon
authors: Africa Harvest Biotechnology Foundation International,3rd Floor Whitefield Place,School Lane,Westlands,Village market,00621 Nairobi,Kenya.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Njuguna
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D001709:Biotechnology; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D004032:Diet; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry*; D030841:Food, Genetically Modified; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D009549:Nigeria; D009753:Nutritive Value; D045868:Sorghum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene
keywords: ABS Africa Biofortified Sorghum; Africa Biofortified Sorghum; CFT confined field trials; ICRISAT International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid-Tropics; Malnutrition; OPV open pollinated varieties; Vitamin A