INSTAPA

Improved Nutrition through STAPle

foods in Africa

Inge D Brouwer

Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University

Global Donor Platform for Rural Development

Novel staple food-based strategies to improve

micronutrient status for better health in Africa

31 January 2013

Inge D. Brouwer

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Variety Fe (ppm) Zn (ppm) Grain yield

(g/m2) Gamo* 39.8 19.3 195 Fada* 39.7 18.4 197 Mona* 38.9 20.7 227 Yougo* 37.4 18.9 194 Lata 37.1 19.1 173 Tieble 37.0 20.7 167 Mara* 36.8 17.6 200 Massa* 34.7 17.7 214 Tokotigui 32.6 20.3 153 Sawaba 31.3 18.4 149 Tanko 31.2 18.9 149 Yebele 31.1 20.1 136 Yamba 31.1 17.9 155 Wanti 30.5 18.1 159 Sewa* 29.5 16.5 218 Sigui kumbe* 27.6 14.2 201

Mean Fe/Zn content of

sorghum varieties

Hybrids cover the entire range from low to high Fe/Zn

contents

Hybrids did not significantly exceed “Tieble” (local

variety) for Fe/Zn contents

Fe/Zn content still far from desirable levels

Conventional selection & breeding cannot fill the gab

Should varieties with low Fe/Zn and high yield be

released and disseminated?

22-26 June 2009

Inge D. Brouwer

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Improvement of traditional dishes increased

Zn, Fe and vitamin A content

Bioavailability of Fe and Zn

No difference between in quantity consumed by

children

Need for proof of principle

• Edible root crop

• Extremely drought resistant

• Carbohydrates, calcium

• Staple food for 70 mln people

• Yellow varieties from Amazon

• Introduction in Africa by IITA, Nigeria

• Crop cycle: 10-12 mo

• 11 varieties selected (7 – 12 ppm β-carotene)

Cassava

31 January 2013

Inge D. Brouwer

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Acceptability: sensory and cultural

• Difference in taste

• Preference for yellow cassava

• Reasons:

• attractive colour

• sweet taste

• soft texture

• Cultural acceptability:

• 100% intention to consume

• Health knowledge and worries on

colour, taste, texture and

bitterness

Discrimination test

Preference test

Inge D. Brouwer

Proof of principle: efficacy trial

Inge D. Brouwer 7

Yellow cassava +

placebo

White cassava +

placebo

White cassava +

beta-carotene

supplement

18 weeks (112 days)

Schoolc

hild

ren w

ith V

itam

in A

deficie

ncy Cassava consumed (gram) 367

β-carotene in cassava (µg/100 gr) 394

β-carotene intake (µg/day) 202 (45-73% EAR)

Cassava consumed (gram) 364

β-carotene intake (µg/day) 5 (1-2% EAR)

Cassava consumed (gram) 361

β-carotene in supplement (µg) 200

β-carotene intake (µg/day) 205 (46-75% EAR)

Euronews documentary on INstapa

31 January 2013

Acknowledgements

• ICRISAT, Mali:

• Eva Weltzien, Marjolein

Smit, Vera Lugutuah

• IITA, Nigeria:

• Bussie Maizya, Norbert

Maroya

• KARI, Kenya:

• Joseph Kamau,

• IFPRI/HarvestPlus:

• Erick Boy, Howarth Bouis

• UNK, Kenya:

• Alice Mwangi, Gloria Mbera

• UAC, Benin:

• Romain Dossa (†), Evariste

Mitchikpe

• WU, Netherlands:

• Elise Talsma, Alida Melse,

Hans Verhoef, Lucy Elburg

31 January 2013

Inge D. Brouwer

The project was realized in the framework of INSTAPA Project, funded by the European Union’s

Seventh Framework Programme [FP7/2007-2013] under grant agreement nr 211484

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