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dc.contributor.authorOkwuonu, I.C.
dc.contributor.authorNarayanan, N.N.
dc.contributor.authorEgesi, C.N.
dc.contributor.authorTaylor, N.J.
dc.date.accessioned2021-03-03T09:35:33Z
dc.date.available2021-03-03T09:35:33Z
dc.date.issued2021-03
dc.identifier.citationOkwuonu, I.C., Narayanan, N.N., Egesi, C.N. & Taylor, N.J. (2021). Opportunities and challenges for biofortification of cassava to address iron and zinc deficiency in Nigeria. Global Food Security, 28, 100478: 1-9.
dc.identifier.issn2211-9124
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/7060
dc.description.abstractNigeria is the world's largest producer of cassava (Manihot esculenta), and its production is important to the country's economy. Cassava's edible storage roots act as a critical staple food for over 180 million Nigerians. Micronutrient deficiency presents a major public health issue in Nigeria and correlates with cassava consumption level across six-agro-ecological zones within the country. Though high in caloric value, cassava roots are deficient in minerals, placing populations that rely on this crop at risk of hidden hunger. Micronutrient deficiencies, especially iron and zinc, affect an estimated 6 million children in Nigeria under five years of age. Supplementation, fortification and food-based diversification are being employed to tackle micronutrient deficiencies. However, in order to achieve wider impact and sustainability, biofortification of staple foods such as cassava is also being explored. Conventional breeding of cassava is unlikely to achieve elevated storage root mineral content at nutritionally significant levels due to lack of genetic diversity for these traits within the existing germplasm. Biofortification by genetic modification provides a potential solution to this challenge. Proof of concept has demonstrated that transgenic biofortification is a reality and can produce foodstuffs with increased mineral content that could beneficially impact the health of consumers in Nigeria and elsewhere. This review is targeted towards understanding the dynamics of micronutrient deficiency across Nigeria and addresses opportunities and challenges for deploying iron and zinc biofortified cassava.
dc.description.sponsorshipBill & Melinda Gates Foundation
dc.format.extent1-9
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectMicronutrients
dc.subjectNigeria
dc.subjectBiofortification
dc.subjectCassava
dc.subjectIron
dc.subjectZinc
dc.titleOpportunities and challenges for biofortification of cassava to address iron and zinc deficiency in Nigeria
dc.typeJournal Article
cg.contributor.crpRoots, Tubers and Bananas
cg.contributor.affiliationNational Root Crops Research Institute, Nigeria
cg.contributor.affiliationDonald Danforth Plant Science Center
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture
cg.contributor.affiliationCornell University
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionWest Africa
cg.coverage.countryNigeria
cg.coverage.hubHeadquarters and Western Africa Hub
cg.researchthemeBiotech and Plant Breeding
cg.identifier.bibtexciteidOKWUONU:2021
cg.isijournalISI Journal
cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and developing country institute
cg.iitasubjectAgronomy
cg.iitasubjectBiofortification
cg.iitasubjectCassava
cg.iitasubjectFood Science
cg.iitasubjectFood Security
cg.iitasubjectPlant Breeding
cg.iitasubjectPlant Production
cg.journalGlobal Food Security
cg.notesOpen Access Article; Published online: 24 Jan 2021
cg.accessibilitystatusOpen Access
cg.reviewstatusPeer Review
cg.usagerightslicenseCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 0.0)
cg.targetaudienceScientists
cg.identifier.doihttps://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100478
cg.iitaauthor.identifierChiedozie Egesi: 0000-0002-9063-2727
cg.futureupdate.requiredNo


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