Question

How has the breeding programme helped in improving the public nutritional health? State two examples in support of your answer.

Answer 1

The breeding program has helped improve public nutritional health mainly through biofortification, which involves developing crop varieties with higher levels of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and healthier fats. This approach addresses micronutrient malnutrition by producing staple foods with enhanced nutritional quality, thus reducing hidden hunger and related health issues. Breeding focuses on improving protein content, vitamin levels, and mineral content in crops, providing sustainable nutrition benefits, especially to low-income populations who rely heavily on staple foods.

Two examples in support of this are:

1. Maize hybrids developed with twice the amount of essential amino acids, lysine and tryptophan, compared to existing varieties.
2. An iron-fortified rice variety that contains over five times as much iron as commonly consumed rice varieties.