Author
 |
Welch, Ross |
|
Submitted to: Trace Elements in Man and Animals International Symposium
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 1/5/1997 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Micronutrient (e.g., Fe, vitamin A & I) malnutrition ("hidden hunger") is a massive global problem affecting more than two billion people mostly poor women, infants and children that are dependent on staple plant foods for their sustenance. Generally, international supplementation and food fortification programs to alleviate "hidden hunger" are effective in the short term but are not proven to be sustainable. Developing agricultural systems that increase the density of bioavailable micronutrients in edible portions of staple food crops would provide sustainable solutions to"hidden hunger". Unfortunately, important staple plant foods (e.g., rice, wheat, maize, beans, & cassava) are low in bioavailable micronutrients. As eaten, they contain low micronutrient levels and substances (i.e., antinutrients) that reduce micronutrient (e.g., Fe and Zn) bioavailability to humans. How can staple plant food crops be changed to improve the bioavailable micronutrient output of farming systems? This paper will review the factor in plant foods that affect micronutrient content and bioavailability to humans & discuss sustainable means of improving these foods as sources of micronutrients to subsistence farm families and the urban poor in developing countries. |
