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Title: The BioCassava Plus program: Biofortification of cassava for sub-Saharan Africa

Author
item SAYRE, RICHARD - Danforth Plant Science Center
item BEECHING, JOHN - University Of Bath
item CAHOON, EDGAR - University Of Nebraska
item EGESI, CHIEDOZIE - National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI)
item FAUQUET, CLAUDE - Danforth Plant Science Center
item FELLMAN, JOHN - Washington State University
item FREGENE, MARTIN - Danforth Plant Science Center
item GRUISSEM, WILHELM - Swiss Federal Institute Of Technology Zurich
item MALLOWA, SALLY - Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
item MANARY, MARK - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item MAZIYA-DIXON, BUSSIE - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture
item MBANASO, ADA - National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI)
item SCHACHTMAN, DANIEL - Danforth Plant Science Center
item SIRITUNGA, DIMUTH - University Of Puerto Rico
item TAYLOR, NIGEL - Danforth Plant Science Center
item VANDERSCHUREN, HERVE - Swiss Federal Institute Of Technology Zurich
item ZHANG, PENG - Chinese Academy Of Sciences

Submitted to: Annual Reviews of Plant Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2011
Publication Date: 6/1/2011
Citation: Sayre, R., Beeching, J.R., Cahoon, E.B., Egesi, C., Fauquet, C., Fellman, J., Fregene, M., Gruissem, W., Mallowa, S., Manary, M., Maziya-Dixon, B., Mbanaso, A., Schachtman, D.P., Siritunga, D., Taylor, N., Vanderschuren, H., Zhang, P. 2011. The BioCassava Plus program: Biofortification of cassava for sub-Saharan Africa. Annual Reviews of Plant Biology. 62:251-272.

Interpretive Summary: Millions of Africans rely on the crop cassava as their staple source of calories, but the crop provides inadequate amounts of protein, iron, zinc and Vitamin A. Genetically engineered cassava was developed with increased nutrient intake, increased shelf life, reduced cyanogenic glycosides, and resistance to viral diseases. The cassava was tested and its efficiency was proven. This study shows that developing a genetically biofortified cassava is possible and efficient.

Technical Abstract: More than 250 million Africans rely on the starchy root crop cassava (Manihot esculenta) as their staple source of calories. A typical cassava-based diet, however, provides less than 30% of the minimum daily requirement for protein and only 10-20% of that for iron, zinc, and vitamin A. The BioCassava Plus (BC+) program has employed modern biotechnologies intended to improve the health of Africans through the development and delivery of genetically engineered cassava with increased nutrient (zinc, iron, protein, and vitamin A) levels. Additional traits addressed by BioCassava Plus include increased shelf life, reduced toxic cyanogenic glycosides to safe levels, and resistance to viral disease. The program also provides incentives for the adoption of biofortified cassava. Proof of concept was achieved for each of the target traits. Results from field trials in Puerto Rico, the first confined field trials in Nigeria to use genetically engineered organisms, and ex ante impact analyses support the efficacy of using transgenic strategies for the biofortification of cassava.