This document summarizes the key points from a speech given by Prof M S Swaminathan at the 2nd Global Conference on Biofortification in Kigali, Rwanda. The summary includes: 1) Biofortification was discussed as an important pathway for achieving the goal of rescuing 25 million children from malnutrition by 2016, as part of the UK Prime Minister's initiative. 2) South Asia has an "enigma" where there is extraordinary economic growth but also high levels of child stunting, with 2 out of 5 children stunted in the region. 3) Biofortification can help address all three major dimensions of hunger: calorie deprivation, protein deficiency, and micronutrient deficiency

1. 2ndGlobal Conference on Biofortification
Prof M S Swaminathan, FNA, FRS
UNESCO Chair in Ecotechnology, MSSRF, Chennai
Kigali, Rwanda, 1 April 2014
Biofortificationand the
Zero Hunger Challenge

2. United Nations Secretary-General’s Vision (2012)
Source: www.un.org
2025 : Target Year for Achieving Zero Hunger Challenge

3. UK Prime Minister’s Initiative
On12August2012,theclosingdayoftheLondonOlympics,thePrimeMinisteroftheUnitedKingdom,DavidCameron,launched,aprogrammedesignedtorescue25millionchildrenfrommalnutrition-inducedstuntingby2016,whenthenextOlympicswilltakeplaceatRiodeJaneiroinBrazil. Biofortificationisanimportantpathwayforachievingthisgoalspeedilyandeconomically.

4. South Asian Enigma
oExtraordinary economic growth in South Asia
oPopulation largely dependent on agriculture
oYet, 2 out of 5 children stunted
39% of children are stunted in South Asia
UNICEF 2013

5. 61.7
11 9.6 8 7.5 6
Top 6 countries with highest
number of stunted children
(millions)
UNICEF 2013
o Region with the largest
number of children with
stunted growth
o First 1000 days critical. Low
Birth Weight Babies 1 in 4
o Under-nutrition reduces a
nation’s economic
advancement by 8% (Lancet
2013)
South Asian Enigma

6. Source : IFPRI
AFRICAN ENIGMA
Prosperity of Nature but Poverty of People

7. AFRICA
Halving hunger : it can be done
M S Swaminathan &
Pedro A Sanchez
UN Millennium Project 2005

8. Source: FAO, US Energy Administration and www.indexmundi.organd http://quotes.post1.org/historical-crude-oil-price-chart/ (data updated as on March 14, 2014)
The Future Belongs to Nations with Grains and not Guns
Price Volatility

9. Hunger
Chronic
Hidden
Transient
Food Security :
Availability
Access
Absorption
Awareness –Analysis -Action
MSSRF / WFP : Food Insecurity Atlas

10. CALORIE
DEPRIVATION
PROTEIN
DEFICIENCY
MICRONUTRIENT
DEFICIENCY
Picture Source: Google images
Three major dimensions of hunger
Biofortifcationanswers all three dimensions

11. Comparison of woo-gen (right) and dee-geo- woo-gen strains, the latter containing thesd1mutation
The effects of differentRhtalleles on plant height in wheat (cv. April Bearded). The wild-type containsRht-B1aandRht-D1a, which are homoeologous(corresponding) genes on the B and D genomes.Rht- B1cis a more severe allele at theRht-B1locus
Source: http://5e.plantphys.net/
Overcoming Undernutrition:
The Green Revolution in Wheat and Rice

12. Green Revolution Symphony (1968)
oTechnology
oServices
oPublicPolicies
oFarmers’enthusiasm
Indian farmers achieved as much progress in wheat production
in four years (1964–68), as during the preceding 4000 years.
Major Components
Synergy among Scientific skill, Political will and Farmers’ toil

13. Evergreen Revolution is the Pathway
oWorldrequires50%morericein2030thanin2004withapproximately30% lessarablelandoftoday
oMainstreamingecologyintechnologydevelopmentanddisseminationistheroadtosustainableagriculture

14. Prodn.x 9
Yield x3
Area x 2.5
1960-61- 11.0 MT
1965-66 – 10.4 MT
1973-74 - 20.8 MT
An Evergreen Revolution in Wheat
Goal for 2030 : 150 million tonnes of wheat from 30 million ha
Prerequisites : Soil & Plant Health Care
& Remunerative Market

15. No Time to Relax : Major Challenges Ahead
oAvoidingFoodlossesandFoodWaste
oClimatechange,temperature,precipitation,andsealevel
oShrinkingpercapitalandandwaterresources
oExpandingbioticandabioticstresses
oAdversecost-risk-returnstructureoffarming
oMarketvolatility
oReluctanceofyouthtotaketofarming:LackofDemographicDividend

16. Biofortificationand Zero Hunger Challenge :
3 Major approaches
1.Naturallyoccurringbiofortifiedplantslikemoringa, sweetpotato,nutri-milletsandfruitsandvegetables.
2.Biofortifiedvarietiesselectedbybreedingandselection,eg,ironrichpearlmilletandzincrichrice
3.GeneticallybiofortifiedcropslikeGoldenRiceandironrichrice(afterappropriateregulatoryclearance)
Cultivate and Consume

17. 25xironinspinach
17xcalciuminmilk
15xpotassiuminbananas
10xvitaminAincarrots
9xproteininyogurt
National Geographic, November 2012
Role of Agro-forestry in Biofortification
MoringaOleifera
Agro- forestry : Common land use in Africa

18. Breadfruit Can Be Manna
oTheBreadfruitInstitutehasfoundthattheperennialtreesproducemorefoodindryweightperhectarethancorn, rice,orwheat
oAfruitrichiniron,potassium, andVitaminAprecursors
Source: Science Vol342 18 October 2013

19. Rich source of Vitamin C
Phyllanthusemblica
Picture Source: Google images

20. Rich in Nutrition; Climate Smart
Culinary Diversity

21. Source : http://foodtank.com/news/2014/03/california-drought-time-to-rethink-forgotten-grains
Combating California drought again : Revive Dying Wisdom and Vanishing Crops
Convert Calamity into an Opportunity

22. Science, Vol325, 31 July 2009
Gene Banks for a Warming Planet

23. TheNationalHorticultureMissionofIndiaaimstoprovidehorticulturalremediestonutritionalmaladies.AsaresultofthisMission,theproductionoffruitsandvegetableshasreachedalevelof270milliontonnesinIndiaduring2013-14.
Develop Safe Storage Facilities

24. Orange-fleshed Sweet PotatoRich in Beta carotene

25. Quality Protein Maize

26. Biofortificationthrough breeding:
High-iron Pearl Millet
ICTP 8203
ICRISAT-bred OPV
(70-74 ppmFe)
With 10% Higher Yield
86M86
Pioneer hybrid (54-64 ppm Fe)
Marketed by NIRMAL SEEDS

27. World’s first high-zinc rice released in Bangladesh
Source : Rice Today, Oct-Dec 2013, Vol12, No.4

28. 19 varieties of Yam in 4 species were in Cultivation (as of 2006) but less than 5 in rural market and none in urban market
Dioscorea alata
1.Inchikachil I & II`
2.Kuzhikavithu I
3.Kuzhikavithu II
4.Quintalkachil I
5.Quintalkachil II
6.Anakomban
7.Kaduvakkayyan
8.Urulan kachil
9.Kuppathottikizhangu
10.Elivalankachil
11.Neendi/Veetukizhangu
12.Vella kachil I & II
13.Chorakachil/cherakachil/chuvappukachil/ Neela kachil I, II & III
Dioscorea esculenta
14. Nanakizhangu
15. Vella Enchi kachil
16. Mullan Kachil
Dioscorea rotundata
17.Africankachil
18. Thoonankachi
Dioscorea bulbifera
19. Erachikachil/Adathappu
Life Saving Crops
in Wayanad
Leveraging Agro-forestry for Nutrition

29. KolliHills
BiofortifiedMultiple Cropping System

30. o3500riceaccessions(ricelandracesofCG, Orissa,TN),100popularricecultivarsand650advancedbreedinglineshavebeenscreened
o14genotypeswithhighZncontentinpolishedgrainswith35-40ug/ghavebeenidentified
oSelectionandphenotypingof40ricegenotypesareundermulti-locationtrials
Rice Breeding for High Zinc Rice
Source : MSSRF & IGAU, Raipur

31. Marker Assisted Breeding
IR 38 x Jeerigesanna
BI 33 x Jeerigesanna
Azucenax Moromutant
Fivemappingpopulationshavebeendevelopedandpurified.
Molecularmarkersforgenesassociatedwithironuptake, transportandaccumulationhavebeendesigned.
MarkerAssistedSelectioniseligiblefororganiccertification
Source : Indian BiofortificationNetwork

32. Back cross derived lines in Swarnabackground using Kaybonet-GR2-R event as donor
Swarna
Golden Swarna
Source : IARI, New Delhi
Genetic Modification : Golden Rice

33. 780 bp
Line 4 Homozygous plants
NT P
(b)
650bp
Line 12 Homozygous Transgenic plants
H2O
M
NT
P
(a)
Tissue specific expression of ferritingene from mangrove in rice for iron fortification
Avicenniamarina
Transgenic Rice lines
Stable inheritance of transgenics
Am Fer
Am Fer
Am Fer
Genetic map of Am Ferin transgenics
Source : MSSRF

34. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1
Series1
Series2
Series3
Series4
Series5
Series6
Series7
Series8
Series9
Series10
Series11
Series12
Series13
Series14 Polished rice with stable expression of 21-28ppm Iron
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
Expression of Iron in Rice Endosperm

35. Golden Rice :
Trial Site Vandalized in Bicol, Philippines
Source: Rice Today, IRRI, Oct-Dec 2013, Vol.12, No.4
Establish Regulatory system which inspires public, professional, political and media confidence

36. “FSNinvolvestheintroductionofagriculturalremediestothenutritionalmaladiesprevailinginanarea,throughthemainstreamingofnutritionalcriteriaintheselectionofthecomponentsofafarmingsysteminvolvingcrops,farmanimalsandwherefeasible,fish.Whilefinalizingthecomponentsofafarmingsystem,thegenderandagedimensionsofhumannutritionalneedsarekeptinview,suchasthespecialneedsofpregnantwomenandnursingmothers,andnewbornbabiesduringthefirst1000daysafterconceptionandbirth”.BiofortifiedcropvarietiesareintroducedinFSNwhereveravailable.
Farming System for Nutrition (FSN)*
*Designed by MSSfor LANSA

37. “Take it to the Farmer” (Dr Norman Borlaug)
LabtoLab:
AllIndiaCoordinatedResearchProject
LabtoLand
NationalDemonstrations
KrishiVigyanKendras(FarmScienceCentre)
VillageKnowledgeCentres
DairyCooperatives
FisherFriendApplications
LandtoLab
GloballyImportantAgriculturalHeritageSites
LandtoLand
NationalTonnageClubofFarmers
FarmSchools(FarmertoFarmerLearning)
Bridging the gap between
scientific know-how and farmers’ do how

38. Jamsetji Tata National Virtual Academy (NVA) Fellows
Celebration of the Core Competence of Rural India

39. Role of Community Hunger Fighters in Biofortification
oBecomewell-versedonthecausesandcuresfortheendemicandhiddenhungerprevailinginthevillage/ townthroughanutritionliteracyprogramme
oIdentifyandintroduceagriculturalremediestonutritionalmaladiesbasedongenderandage
oIntroduceinthefarmingsystembiofortifiedcropsandvarieties

40. Fighting Poverty induced Chronic Hunger
National Food Security Bill of India, 2013
Goal:Toprovidefoodandnutritionalsecuritybyensuringaccesstoadequatequantityofqualityfoodataffordableprices
SpecialFeatures:
oLifeCycleapproachwithemphasisonthe1000daysofachild’slife
oTheseniormostwomaninthehouseholdwillbedesignatedtheHeadoftheHouseholdfromthepointofviewoffoodentitlements
oEnlargementoftheFoodBasketbyincludingnutri-milletsandotherorphancropsinthePublicDistributionSystem
oEntitlement:Everypersonbelongingtopriorityhouseholdsshallbeentitledtoreceivefivekilogramoffoodgrainsperpersonpermonthatsubsidisedprices.

41. Conclusions
oEnlargementoftheFoodBasket:UndertheNationalFoodSecurityAct,nutri-cerealslikeawiderangeofmilletsandorphancropswillbeincludedinthePublicDistributionSystematRs.1perkg(1USDollar-60Rupees)
oNationalHorticultureMission:HorticulturalRemedieswillbepopularisedformajornutritionalmaladiesunderawellfundedNationalHorticultureMission
oLaunchingaNutri-FarmMovement:TheNutri-farmMovementwillincludethepopularisationofbiofortifiedvarietiesandcropslikeiron-richpearlmillet,zincrichwheatandrice,proteinrichmaize
I.Initiatives of the Government of India
The above steps will help to address both calorie deprivation and micro-nutrient malnutrition
Contd….

42. Conclusions
II.Initiatives of State Governments
oSupply of protein rich grain legumes like chickpea, beans, pigeon pea, lentils, green and black gram etc
oMultiple fortified salt
oSupply of eggs in school noon meal programmes
Contd….

43. Conclusions
III. Contributions of MSSRF
1.GettingGovernmentsresolveattheAsia-PacificconferenceontheYearofFamilyFarmingthateveryFamilyFarmwillbedevelopedintoabiofortifiedfarm
2.EstablishmentofGeneticGardensofBiofortifiedCropsandvarietiesbothforpromotingnutritionalliteracyandtheconservation,cultivation,consumptionandcommerceofsuchnutritionrichcrops.TheproposedMSSRFGeneticGardenofBiofortifiedcropsmaybethefirstofitskindintheworld.
3.TakeanactivepartintheHarvestPlusprogrammeandothersimilarprogrammesandundertakenutritionalenrichmentofstaplesandcommonlyconsumed vegetablesthroughMendelianbreedingandmarker- assistedselection.
Contd….

44. Conclusions
o2013wascommemoratedastheYearofQuinoa
o2014isobservedastheInternationalYearofFamilyFarming
o2016willbecelebratedastheYearofPulses
oTheSecondGlobalBiofortificationConferencemayrecommendtotheUNthataYearbetween2018and2020maybeobservedastheInternationalYearofBiofortifiedandUnderutilisedCrops.ThiswillbeanimportantstepinmeetingtheZeroHungerChallengeby2025,sincebiofortifiedcropshelptoaddresssimultaneouslyunder- andmalnutrition.
Contd….
4.InternationalYearofUnderutilisedandBiofortifiedCrops

45. Six Keys to Success
1.Farmers Decision on Crop and Varietal Choice: governed by the cost –risk –return structure of farming; soil nutrient composition influences crop nutrient composition
2.Consumers Decision based on cost and culinary characteristics
3.Public –Private Partnerships: Pricing, procurement, value chain development, public distribution and social protection
Contd….

46. 4. Nutritional Literacy:capacity building of community hunger fighters
5. Convergence and Synergy among food and non food factors; Coalition for a Nutrition Secure India
6. Measurement of Impact: adopt measurable indicators
Six Keys to Success

47. Towards an Era of Biohappiness
SustainableDevelopmentGoals
ZeroHungerChallenge
BiofortificationisthePathway
LANSA(LeveragingAgricultureforNutritioninSouthAsia)isaneffectiveplatformforpartnership