This document summarizes Prof. M S Swaminathan's keynote address at the 2nd Global Conference on Biofortification. It discusses how biofortification can help achieve the UN's Zero Hunger Challenge goal by 2025. It outlines the challenges of malnutrition in South Asia and Africa. It highlights the role of biofortified crops and varieties in addressing malnutrition. It discusses examples like high-iron pearl millet, zinc-rich rice, and genetically modified Golden Rice. The document emphasizes partnerships between public-private sectors, nutrition literacy, and measurable indicators to ensure the success of biofortification efforts.

1. 2nd Global Conference on Biofortification
Prof M S Swaminathan, FNA, FRS
UNESCO Chair in Ecotechnology, MSSRF, Chennai
Kigali, Rwanda, 1 April 2014
Biofortification and 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
On 12 August 2012, the closing day of
the London Olympics, the Prime
Minister of the United Kingdom, David
Cameron, launched, a programme
designed to rescue 25 million children
from malnutrition-induced stunting by
2016, when the next Olympics will
take place at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
Biofortification is an important
pathway for achieving this goal
speedily and economically.

4. South Asian Enigma
o Extraordinary economic
growth in South Asia
o Population largely
dependent on agriculture
o Yet, 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.org and
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
Biofortifcation answers all three dimensions

11. Comparison of woo-gen (right) and dee-geo-
woo-gen strains, the latter containing
the sd1 mutation
The effects of different Rht alleles on plant height in wheat (cv. April
Bearded). The wild-type contains Rht-B1a and Rht-D1a, which are
homoeologous (corresponding) genes on the B and D genomes. Rht-
B1c is a more severe allele at the Rht-B1 locus
Source: http://5e.plantphys.net/
Overcoming Undernutrition:
The Green Revolution in Wheat and Rice

12. Green Revolution Symphony (1968)
o Technology
o Services
o Public Policies
o Farmers’ 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
o World requires 50% more
rice in 2030 than in 2004
with approximately 30%
less arable land of today
o Mainstreaming ecology in
technology development
and dissemination is the
road to sustainable
agriculture

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
o Avoiding Food losses and Food Waste
o Climate change, temperature, precipitation, and
sea level
o Shrinking per capita land and water resources
o Expanding biotic and abiotic stresses
o Adverse cost-risk-return structure of farming
o Market volatility
o Reluctance of youth to take to farming : Lack of
Demographic Dividend

16. Biofortification and Zero Hunger Challenge :
3 Major approaches
1. Naturally occurring biofortified plants like moringa,
sweet potato, nutri-millets and fruits and vegetables.
2. Biofortified varieties selected by breeding and
selection, eg, iron rich pearl millet and zinc rich rice
3. Genetically biofortified crops like Golden Rice and
iron rich rice (after appropriate regulatory
clearance)
Cultivate and Consume

17. 25 x iron in spinach
17 x calcium in milk
15 x potassium in bananas
10 x vitamin A in carrots
9 x protein in yogurt
National Geographic, November 2012
Role of Agro-forestry in Biofortification
Moringa Oleifera
Agro-
forestry :
Common
land use
in Africa

18. Breadfruit Can Be Manna
o The Breadfruit Institute has
found that the perennial trees
produce more food in dry
weight per hectare than corn,
rice, or wheat
o A fruit rich in iron, potassium,
and Vitamin A precursors
Source: Science Vol 342 18 October 2013

19. Rich source
of Vitamin C
Phyllanthus emblica
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,
Vol 325,
31 July
2009
Gene Banks
for a
Warming
Planet

23. The National Horticulture
Mission of India aims to provide
horticultural remedies to
nutritional maladies. As a result
of this Mission, the production
of fruits and vegetables has
reached a level of 270 million
tonnes in India during 2013-14.
Develop Safe Storage Facilities

24. Orange-fleshed Sweet Potato Rich in
Beta carotene

25. Quality Protein Maize

26. Biofortification through breeding:
High-iron Pearl Millet
ICTP 8203
ICRISAT-bred OPV
(70-74 ppm Fe)
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. Kolli Hills
Biofortified Multiple Cropping System

30. o 3500 rice accessions (rice landraces of CG,
Orissa, TN), 100 popular rice cultivars and
650 advanced breeding lines have been
screened
o 14 genotypes with high Zn content in
polished grains with 35-40 ug/g have been
identified
o Selection and phenotyping of 40 rice
genotypes are under multi-location trials
Rice Breeding for High Zinc Rice
Source : MSSRF & IGAU, Raipur

31. Marker Assisted Breeding IR 38 x Jeerige sanna
BI 33 x Jeerige sanna
Azucena x Moromutant
Five mapping populations
have been developed and
purified.
Molecular markers for genes
associated with iron uptake,
transport and accumulation
have been designed.
Marker Assisted Selection is
eligible for organic
certification
Source : Indian Biofortification Network

32. Back cross derived lines in Swarna background
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 ferritin gene from
mangrove in rice for iron fortification
Avicennia marina Transgenic Rice lines
Stable inheritance of
transgenics
Am Fer
Am Fer
Am Fer
Genetic map of Am Fer
in transgenics
Source : MSSRF

34. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1
Series
Series
Series
Series
Series
Series
Series
Series
Series
Series
Series
Series
Series
Series
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. “FSN involves the introduction of agricultural
remedies to the nutritional maladies prevailing in an
area, through the mainstreaming of nutritional
criteria in the selection of the components of a
farming system involving crops, farm animals and
where feasible, fish. While finalizing the components
of a farming system, the gender and age dimensions
of human nutritional needs are kept in view, such as
the special needs of pregnant women and nursing
mothers, and new born babies during the first 1000
days after conception and birth”. Biofortified crop
varieties are introduced in FSN wherever available.
Farming System for Nutrition (FSN)*
*Designed by MSS for LANSA

37. “Take it to the Farmer” (Dr Norman Borlaug)
Lab to Lab:
All India Coordinated Research Project
Lab to Land
National Demonstrations
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (Farm Science Centre)
Village Knowledge Centres
Dairy Cooperatives
Fisher Friend Applications
Land to Lab
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites
Land to Land
National Tonnage Club of Farmers
Farm Schools (Farmer to Farmer Learning)
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
o Become well-versed on the
causes and cures for the
endemic and hidden hunger
prevailing in the village /
town through a nutrition
literacy programme
o Identify and introduce
agricultural remedies to
nutritional maladies based on
gender and age
o Introduce in the farming
system biofortified crops and
varieties

40. Fighting Poverty induced Chronic Hunger
National Food Security Bill of India, 2013
Goal : To provide food and nutritional security by ensuring access to
adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices
Special Features :
o Life Cycle approach with emphasis on the 1000 days of a
child’s life
o The senior most woman in the household will be designated
the Head of the Household from the point of view of food
entitlements
o Enlargement of the Food Basket by including nutri-millets
and other orphan crops in the Public Distribution System
o Entitlement : Every person belonging to priority households
shall be entitled to receive five kilogram of foodgrains per
person per month at subsidised prices.

41. Conclusions
o Enlargement of the Food Basket : Under the National Food
Security Act, nutri-cereals like a wide range of millets and
orphan crops will be included in the Public Distribution
System at Rs. 1 per kg (1 US Dollar - 60 Rupees)
o National Horticulture Mission : Horticultural Remedies will
be popularised for major nutritional maladies under a well
funded National Horticulture Mission
o Launching a Nutri-Farm Movement : The Nutri-farm
Movement will include the popularisation of biofortified
varieties and crops like iron-rich pearl millet, zinc rich wheat
and rice, protein rich maize
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
o Supply of protein rich grain
legumes like chickpea, beans,
pigeon pea, lentils, green and
black gram etc
o Multiple fortified salt
o Supply of eggs in school noon
meal programmes
Contd….

43. Conclusions
III. Contributions of MSSRF
1. Getting Governments resolve at the Asia-Pacific
conference on the Year of Family Farming that every
Family Farm will be developed into a biofortified farm
2. Establishment of Genetic Gardens of Biofortified Crops
and varieties both for promoting nutritional literacy and
the conservation, cultivation, consumption and
commerce of such nutrition rich crops. The proposed
MSSRF Genetic Garden of Biofortified crops may be the
first of its kind in the world.
3. Take an active part in the HarvestPlus programme and
other similar programmes and undertake nutritional
enrichment of staples and commonly consumed
vegetables through Mendelian breeding and marker-
assisted selection.
Contd….

44. Conclusions
o 2013 was commemorated as the Year of Quinoa
o 2014 is observed as the International Year of Family
Farming
o 2016 will be celebrated as the Year of Pulses
o The Second Global Biofortification Conference may
recommend to the UN that a Year between 2018 and 2020
may be observed as the International Year of Biofortified
and Underutilised Crops. This will be an important step in
meeting the Zero Hunger Challenge by 2025, since
biofortified crops help to address simultaneously under-
and malnutrition.
Contd….
4. International Year of Underutilised and Biofortified Crops

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
 Sustainable Development Goals
 Zero Hunger Challenge
 Biofortification is the Pathway
 LANSA (Leveraging Agriculture
for Nutrition in South Asia) is
an effective platform for
partnership