Delivering bioavailable micronutrients through biofortifying sorghum and seed chain innovations

Ashok Kumar, A and Mehtre, S A and Anuradha, K and Jaganathan, J and Hari Prasanna, - and Gorthy, S and Gadakh, S R and Chavan, U and Kalpande, H V and Tonapi, V A (2018) Delivering bioavailable micronutrients through biofortifying sorghum and seed chain innovations. In: Science Forum 2018, October 10 - 12, 2018, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

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Abstract

Micronutrient malnutrition, particularly among women and children, is one of greatest global challenges of our times and the national Governments and international organizations are following various approaches to combat it. Biofortification –increasing the micronutrient density in edible plant parts by genetic means, is one of the cost-effective and sustainable methods to address the micronutrient malnutrition. Sorghum is one of the major staples globally and it meets more than 50% micronutrient requirements of low-income group populations in predominantly sorghum eating areas. We developed biofortified sorghums with elevated levels of grain Fe and Zn combined with higher grain yield possessing farmer-preferred grain and stover traits. The first biofortified sorghum cultivar ‘Parbhani Shakti’ was released in India in 2018, which, besides high Fe and Zn, has higher protein content and lower phytates content. An innovative ‘Seed Consortium’ was built to take this variety to the farmers in shortest possible time to benefit the farmers and consumers. Multi-stakeholder partnership was the key in this endeavour and Indian NARS, farmers, public sector seed organisations, media and Government played a key role along with ICRISAT.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Divisions: Research Program : Asia
CRP: CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (GLDC)
Uncontrolled Keywords: micronutrients, biofortification, sorghum, seed chain innovations
Subjects: Others > Innovation
Mandate crops > Sorghum
Others > Seed Systems
Depositing User: Mr Ramesh K
Date Deposited: 01 Nov 2018 08:13
Last Modified: 01 Nov 2018 08:13
URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/10924
Acknowledgement: CGIAR greatly appreciates the contributions made by all of its funding partners, without which none of our work would be possible. This research was supported by CGIAR Trust Fund contributors.
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