Biofortified Sorghum Holds Promise of Improved Health and Nutrition

Situation: Sorghum is a dietary staple for more than half a billion people around the world. Reliance on sorghum in regions of Africa and Asia can result in problems associated with malnutrition due to conventional sorghum's low levels of lysine.
Solution: Pioneer researchers developed a technology to improve sorghum's nutritional value. The Grand Challenges in Global Health Initiative awarded a grant to the project, Nutritionally Enhanced Sorghum for the Arid and Semi-Arid Tropical Areas of Africa. The project consortium is led by Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International.
Result: Visiting scientists from Africa have conducted research for the project on the Pioneer campus in Johnston, Iowa. These scientists have learned about the technology and will use their expertise to continue to move the project forward in their home country of Africa.

Profile: Biofortified Sorghum Holds Promise of Improved Health and Nutrition

Sorghum is a dietary staple for more than half a billion people around the world, but it lacks essential nutrients and is not easily digested. Sorghum is an important staple crop because of its unique ability to grow in dry environments where irrigation is not accessible or affordable. Millions of people, and especially children, in sub-Saharan Africa suffer from health problems associated with vitamin and mineral deficiency; however, arid climates with poor soils cannot support the food needed to supply these nutrients.

Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is partnering with Africa Harvest as the scientific lead institution on the Africa Biofortified Sorghum (ABS) Project. Pioneer donated the initial technologies valued at $4.8 million to help with the project aimed at improving the nutritional value of sorghum, a staple crop in Africa. The ABS Project is funded by a grant to Africa Harvest from the Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative, with a budget of $18.6 million over five years. The Grand Challenges in Global Health Initiative is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, the Wellcome Trust, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Pioneer Scientist Paul Anderson, Ph.D. and principal investigator of the project, said, "The project provides a promising long-term solution - using biofortification - to fight hunger, malnutrition and poverty in Africa. This project would place more nutritious seeds into the hands of the people who need it the most, the poorest of the poor, who reside in remote areas and do not have access to fortified, processed food." Thus, the most viable solution is for them to grow more nutritious versions of what they already can grow to satisfy their health needs.

This approach is necessary for sorghum to deliver a higher nutritional value by providing higher levels of vitamins A and E, micronutrients such as iron and zinc, and essential amino acids such as lysine, while improving digestibility. The project aims to give farmers and consumers a nutritional package in popular sorghum varieties for the different regions in Africa. Anderson said, "I commend the Grand Challenges initiative for supporting this unique opportunity to apply technology to such an important humanitarian benefit. Without this support, this project wouldn't have the resources to see it through."

Planting maize in many regions in Africa simply isn't an option, due to the arid climates and poor soil properties, and this biofortified sorghum is a viable alternative. "The ABS project is focused on further developing sorghum that grows well in harsh climates but also delivers more benefits to the consumer," said Africa Harvest CEO, Dr. Florence Wambugu, who is also the project coordinator.

If successful, in the long term, the project could help improve the health of 300 million people in Africa. "This is a life-changing project that could save a lot of lives," said Getu Beyene, a post-doctoral research fellow at the Center for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria, South Africa, who has recently joined the scientists at Pioneer headquarters in Johnston, Iowa, to focus on ABS project research and development. The CSIR is the bridge from the scientific community within Pioneer to Africa - to ensure the technology is properly transferred to and implemented in Africa.