MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES (MND) Vitamin A - growth retardation, damage to mucous membrane tracts, reproductive disorders, eye damage—and ultimately blindness Iron - retards physical growth/mental development/learning capacity, capacity to do physical labor, and leads to anemia Iodine - brain damage, significantly lowers IQ of whole populations (dec. by 10-15%) Zinc - is involved in more body functions than any other mineral (component of over 200 enzymes), deficiency increases chances of infections Folic Acid - neural tube closure defects (NTDs) and anemia, specifically impacts pregnant women **Deficiencies deemed most prevalent according to Micronutrient Initiative. May want to consider Vitamin C, Thiamin, and Niacin.

Vitamin A - growth retardation, damage to mucous membrane tracts, reproductive disorders, eye damage—and ultimately blindness

Iron - retards physical growth/mental development/learning capacity, capacity to do physical labor, and leads to anemia

Iodine - brain damage, significantly lowers IQ of whole populations (dec. by 10-15%)

Zinc - is involved in more body functions than any other mineral (component of over 200 enzymes), deficiency increases chances of infections

Folic Acid - neural tube closure defects (NTDs) and anemia, specifically impacts pregnant women

MND AROUND THE WORLD Africa: - Senegal - Ethiopia Asia: - India - Pakistan - Bangladesh - Indonesia - Afghanistan Latin America: - Bolivia - Guatemala **MND occurs in many other countries, but are not included in this list as Oxfam does not work in those specific places.

Africa: - Senegal - Ethiopia

Asia: - India - Pakistan - Bangladesh - Indonesia - Afghanistan

Latin America: - Bolivia - Guatemala

KNOWLEDGE BASED PROGRAMS Address 3 of the 5 causes, cultural beliefs and lack of knowledge on MND, creating a market Provide information, classes, etc to farmers, families, communities - knowledge about organic practices - knowledge pertaining to MND and how growing micronut. rich foods can help them - show how investing in high micronut. foods now will help them in the long run Agriculture is now becoming demand-driven controlled by consumer food preferences. Find a way to target populations in developed countries on why they should care about MND - biggest causes of death in USA are cancer and heart disease; micronutrients help prevent both of these - become aware of our footprints/consumer behavior and the impact it has on others

Address 3 of the 5 causes, cultural beliefs and lack of knowledge on MND, creating a market

Provide information, classes, etc to farmers, families, communities - knowledge about organic practices - knowledge pertaining to MND and how growing micronut. rich foods can help them - show how investing in high micronut. foods now will help them in the long run

Agriculture is now becoming demand-driven controlled by consumer food preferences. Find a way to target populations in developed countries on why they should care about MND - biggest causes of death in USA are cancer and heart disease; micronutrients help prevent both of these - become aware of our footprints/consumer behavior and the impact it has on others

FIELD BASED PROGRAMS Address 2 of the 5 causes, lack of access to produce and industrial agriculture LOCAL LEVEL: - Provide seeds for crops that are high in micronutrients (biofortification?) - Introduce practices that inc. micronutrients in plants (SRI) LARGE SCALE: - Find a way to subsidize the purchase of organic materials over conventional types (make it cost efficient for farmers!) - Introduce biofortified seeds to indus. farms - Show how using organic-like practices will produce high yields and retain soil nutrients

Address 2 of the 5 causes, lack of access to produce and industrial agriculture

LOCAL LEVEL: - Provide seeds for crops that are high in micronutrients (biofortification?) - Introduce practices that inc. micronutrients in plants (SRI)

LARGE SCALE: - Find a way to subsidize the purchase of organic materials over conventional types (make it cost efficient for farmers!) - Introduce biofortified seeds to indus. farms - Show how using organic-like practices will produce high yields and retain soil nutrients

PROJECT IDEAS A sustainable and efficient program should pull from knowledge and field based programs, creating an incentive to “go greener” from multiple angles “ Micronutrient cooperatives” - Create small cooperative farming areas, each family in charge of a crop, encourages crop diversification and diet diversification, local markets. This may work best in Bangladesh. - Note that vegetables are the cheapest way to inc. micronut. in diet Find a corporation that is willing to subsidize purchase of organic materials and buy smaller quantities from many farms (spreading the wealth)

A sustainable and efficient program should pull from knowledge and field based programs, creating an incentive to “go greener” from multiple angles

“ Micronutrient cooperatives” - Create small cooperative farming areas, each family in charge of a crop, encourages crop diversification and diet diversification, local markets. This may work best in Bangladesh. - Note that vegetables are the cheapest way to inc. micronut. in diet

Find a corporation that is willing to subsidize purchase of organic materials and buy smaller quantities from many farms (spreading the wealth)