Biofortified Tortillas to Provide Micronutrients in Latin America

Biofortified Tortillas to Provide Micronutrients in Latin America
By Fabiola Ortiz
Sunday, April 20, 2014

KIGALI, Apr 17 2014 (IPS) - Latin America is one of the regions in the world suffering from “hidden hunger” – a chronic lack of the micronutrients needed to ward off problems like anaemia, blindness, impaired immune systems, and stunted growth.

Brazil is heading up a food biofortification effort in the region to turn this situation around.

Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras are targets of the biofortification programme, after six countries in Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia) and three in Asia (Bangladesh, India and Pakistan).

Behind the initiative is HarvestPlus, which forms part of the CGIAR Consortium research programme on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health.

CGIAR is an independent consortium leading the global effort to modify food in developing regions by adding essential minerals and vitamins.

More:
http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/04/biofortified-tortillas-provide-micronutrients-latin-america/