About nutrition
Common bean was one of the first crops to be included in the HarvestPlus program in 1994, increasing the levels of micronutrient content that can have a measurable impact on human nutrition and health, that meet the agronomic needs of farmers, and that are acceptable to consumers.
We have used genes from the common bean, and also from the wild relative Phaseolus montanus. Nutritional studies show benefits of biofortified beans in higher hemoglobin levels, better cognitive ability and neuron function, and better work capacity.
High iron beans have been released in Brazil, Burundi, Colombia, D.R. Congo, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Nicaragua, Panamá, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Zambia, Eswatini, South Sudan, and Mauritius.
We optimize bean-based product formulations, with the private sector taking the lead, to produce products that are market-driven, and to have safe and nutrient rich consumer acceptable products. We promote beans and bean product consumption through innovative marketing strategies and campaigns.
We also promote homegrown school feeding activities initially implemented in Burundi, Rwanda, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, Cameroon, DR Congo and Tanzania using bio-fortified beans. Preliminary evidence from Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi shows that home-grown school meals using bio-fortified beans bring about improvements in children’s access to education, health and nutrition, whilst strengthening the food and nutritional security of children, households and communities. It improves access for smallholder farmers to stable markets such as schools.
Partnerships and Funders
