Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) and Micronutrient Fortification in Food Crops Using Nanoparticle Technology

It is necessary to develop a resilient food supply that will withstand unexpected future shocks and deliver the required amounts of nutrients to consumers. By increasing the sustainability of food and agriculture, the food system will be able to handle challenges such as climate change, declining agricultural resources, growing population/urbanization, pandemics, and recessions/shortages. Micronutrient deficiency, otherwise called hidden hunger, is one of the major malnutrition consequences worldwide, particularly in middle- or low- income countries. Unlike essential mineral or nutrient compounds, micronutrients could be less of a priority due to their small levels of requirement. However, insufficient micronutrients caused critical adverse health symptoms and are excessively vital for young children’s development. Therefore, there have been numerous attempts to enhance minerals and nutrients in food crops, including biofortification, food fortification, and supplementation. Based on several interventions involving micronutrients, modern technology, such as nanotechnology, can be applied to enhance sustainability and to reduce the food system’s environmental impact. Previous studies have addressed various strategies or interventions to mitigate major micronutrient deficiency including iron, iodine, zinc, and vitamin A. Comparably small amounts of studies have addressed vitamin B12 deficiency and its fortification in food crops. Vitamin B12 deficiency causes serious adverse health effects, including in the nervous or blood systems, and occurs along with other micronutrient deficiencies, such as folate, iron, and zinc, worldwide, particularly in middle- and low-income countries. Mitigation for B12 deficiency has mainly focused on developing pharmacological and medical treatments such as vitamin B12 serum or supplements. Further studies are required to undertake a sustainable approach to fortify vitamin B12 in plant-based food sources for public health worldwide. This review paper highlights nanoparticle application as a promising technology for enhancing vitamin B12 without conventional genetic modification requirements. The nanoparticle can efficiently deliver the mineral/nutrient using coating techniques to targeted sites into the plant. This is mainly because nanoparticles have better solubility and permeability due to their nano size with high surface exposure. Vitamin B12-coated nanoparticles would be absorbed, translocated, and accumulated by the plant and eventually enhance the bioavailability in food crops. Furthermore, by reducing adverse environmental effects, such as leaching issues that mainly occur with conventional fertilizer usage, it would be possible to develop more sustainable food fortification.

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Mitochondrial Genetic Diversity among Farmed Stocks of Oreochromis spp. (Perciformes, Cichlidae) in Madagascar

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d13070281 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 281

Author(s):

Nicolas Hubert ◽

Elodie Pepey ◽

Jean-Michel Mortillaro ◽

Dirk Steinke ◽

Diana Edithe Andria-Mananjara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Low Income ◽

Food System ◽

Production Systems ◽

Dna Barcode ◽

Diversity Indices ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Wild Populations ◽

Fast Development ◽

Well Differentiated

The fast development of aquaculture over the past decades has made it the main source of fish protein and led to its integration into the global food system. Mostly originating from inland production systems, aquaculture has emerged as strategy to decrease malnutrition in low-income countries. The Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was introduced to Madagascar in the 1950s, and is now produced nationally at various scales. Aquaculture mostly relies on fry harvested from wild populations and grow-out in ponds for decades. It has recently been diversified by the introduction of several fast-growing strains. Little is known how local genetic diversity compares to recently introduced strains, although high and comparable levels of genetic diversity have previously been observed for both wild populations and local stocks. Our study compares DNA barcode genetic diversity among eight farms and several strains belonging to three species sampled. DNA-based lineage delimitation methods were applied and resulted in the detection of six well differentiated and highly divergent lineages. A comparison of DNA barcode records to sequences on the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) helped to trace the origin of several of them. Both haplotype and nucleotide diversity indices highlight high levels of mitochondrial genetic diversity, with several local strains displaying higher diversity than recently introduced strains. This allows for multiple options to maintain high levels of genetic diversity in broodstock and provides more options for selective breeding programs.

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Sustainable Food Consumption in the Neoliberal Order

Research Anthology on Food Waste Reduction and Alternative Diets for Food and Nutrition Security ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-5354-1.ch052 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1036-1061

Author(s):

Henry E. Alapiki ◽

Luke A. Amadi

Keyword(s):

Political Ecology ◽

Food Consumption ◽

Low Income ◽

Food System ◽

Relevant Literature ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

World Systems Theory ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Sustainability Challenges ◽

Global Food

In recent decades, we have seen the rise of the sustainable food consumption field and its push for disciplinary space in development studies. This chapter turns to the original impetus of sustainable food consumption and the question of how neoliberal order can be reconciled with the need to save the ecology. Beyond the fundamental objectives, there is a need to assess the links between the global food system, as influenced by neoliberal order, and the signs that it leads to adversity for low-income countries. A review of relevant literature in the sustainable consumption field is explored using content analysis to examine links between neoliberal food consumption dynamics, the logic of global food politics, and the emerging terminological shifts from food consumption to food system. The world systems theory and the Marxian political ecology framework are used to show that sustainability is notable for emphasizing resource efficiency and equitability, which can be useful when sustainability challenges are matched with ecological policies. This chapter makes some policy recommendations.

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Nutrition from a climate change perspective

Proceedings of The Nutrition Society ◽

10.1017/s0029665118002896 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 78 (3) ◽

pp. 380-387 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

J. I. Macdiarmid ◽

S. Whybrow

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Low Income ◽

Crop Production ◽

Food System ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Food And Nutrition Security ◽

Sustainable Diets ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Nutrient Density ◽

Food And Nutrition

Climate change is threatening future global food and nutrition security. Limiting the increase in global temperature to 1·5 °C set out in The Paris Agreement (2015) while achieving nutrient security means overhauling the current food system to create one that can deliver healthy and sustainable diets. To attain this, it is critical to understand the implications for nutrition of actions to mitigate climate change as well as the impacts of climate change on food production and the nutrient composition of foods. It is widely recognised that livestock production has a much greater environmental burden than crop production, and therefore advice is to reduce meat consumption. This has triggered concern in some sectors about a lack of protein in diets, which hence is driving efforts to find protein replacements. However, in most high- and middle-income countries, protein intakes far exceed dietary requirements and it would even if all meat were removed from diets. Reduction in micronutrients should be given more attention when reducing meat. Simply eating less meat does not guarantee healthier or more sustainable diets. Climate change will also affect the type, amount and nutrient quality of food that can be produced. Studies have shown that increased temperature and elevated CO2 levels can reduce the nutrient density of some staple crops, which is of particular concern in low-income countries. Nutrition from a climate change perspective means considering the potential consequences of any climate action on food and nutrition security. In this paper, we discuss these issues from an interdisciplinary perspective.

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Food fortification in low income countries--a new approach to an old standby.

American Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2105/ajph.62.5.715 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 62 (5) ◽

pp. 715-718 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

F J Levinson

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Food Fortification ◽

New Approach

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Impact of climate variables to major food crops’ yield in midhills of western development region, Nepal

Journal of Agriculture and Environment ◽

10.3126/aej.v17i0.19862 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 ◽

pp. 65-72

Author(s):

M Aryal ◽

PP Regmi ◽

RB Thapa ◽

KR Pande ◽

KP Pant

Keyword(s):

Crop Yield ◽

Low Income ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Household Survey ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Secondary Source ◽

Food Crops ◽

Climate Variables ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Major Food

Climate change is threatening the agriculture sector especially on present and future food security in low income countries. Primary and secondary data collected through household survey and collected from different secondary source were used to assess the effects of climate variables on crop yield and the uniformity of effects across crops and growing seasons in Kaski district considering six major food crops as paddy, maize, wheat, millet, Barley and potato. A multivariate regression analysis, based on the first difference time series of crop yield and climate variables, is employed to estimate the empirical relationships between crop yield and climate variables. The results are discussed at district level empirically. It showed that climate variables significantly influence the crop yield, but not uniformly on all crops and in all growing seasons.

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Zinc Biofortification in Food Crops Could Alleviate the Zinc Malnutrition in Human Health

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26123509 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (12) ◽

pp. 3509

Author(s):

Subhashisa Praharaj ◽

Milan Skalicky ◽

Sagar Maitra ◽

Preetha Bhadra ◽

Tanmoy Shankar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Research Community ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Zn Deficiency ◽

Food Crops ◽

Zinc Intake ◽

Diet Supplements ◽

Global Health Issue ◽

Micronutrient Malnutrition

Micronutrient malnutrition is a global health issue and needs immediate attention. Over two billion people across the globe suffer from micronutrient malnutrition. The widespread zinc (Zn) deficiency in soils, poor zinc intake by humans in their diet, low bioavailability, and health consequences has led the research community to think of an economic as well as sustainable strategy for the alleviation of zinc deficiency. Strategies like fortification and diet supplements, though effective, are not economical and most people in low-income countries cannot afford them, and they are the most vulnerable to Zn deficiency. In this regard, the biofortification of staple food crops with Zn has been considered a useful strategy. An agronomic biofortification approach that uses crop fertilization with Zn-based fertilizers at the appropriate time to ensure grain Zn enrichment has been found to be cost-effective, easy to practice, and efficient. Genetic biofortification, though time-consuming, is also highly effective. Moreover, a Zn-rich genotype once developed can also be used for many years without any recurring cost. Hence, both agronomic and genetic biofortification can be a very useful tool in alleviating Zn deficiency.

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How trade can drive inclusive and sustainable food system outcomes in food deficit low-income countries

Food Security ◽

10.1007/s12571-021-01218-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Siemen van Berkum

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

International Trade ◽

Low Income ◽

Food Production ◽

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Market Access ◽

Sustainable Growth ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Food Deficit

AbstractRecent decades have seen food markets and value chains become increasingly global—a trend that creates challenges as well as opportunities for food systems. Positive trade effects on food security are not always self-evident in food deficit low-income countries. Moreover, whereas international trade may also be used to balance regional differences in climate change impacts and biodiversity, trade can exacerbate environmental challenges associated with food production, land use and climate change. This article argues that, for trade to drive inclusive and sustainable growth of nutritious food production in food deficit low-income countries, policies and investments in these countries must focus on three key priorities: 1) diversifying production and markets to increase resilience to external shocks; 2) enhancing competitiveness and improving market access for local farmers and SMEs, and 3) incorporating externalities in international trade. The latter requires collective international action.

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Improving Food System Connectivity: Using Mobile Technology to Leverage Community Partnerships and Strengthen Local Food Systems

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzab043_021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 569-569

Author(s):

Dahiany Zayas Toro ◽

Kelley Koeppen ◽

Emma Lewis ◽

Lisa Poirier ◽

Nina Martin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Food Environment ◽

Food System ◽

Local Food ◽

Fresh Produce ◽

Community Partnerships ◽

Food Distribution ◽

Food Sources ◽

Corner Store ◽

Corner Stores

Abstract Objectives In low-income areas of Baltimore, corner stores are common food sources yet often lack fresh produce. Corner stores are uniquely positioned in the urban food system and offer an opportunity to intervene on the supply chain. However, there is a critical gap in our understanding of the local food distribution network and the best strategies for provisioning corner stores with produce. We sought to inform the development of the Baltimore Urban food Distribution (BUD) mobile application (app), which moves fresh produce from local suppliers to corner stores. We sought to: (1) identify existing networks of local food distribution; (2) explore barriers to increasing fresh produce access within the local food system; and (3) evaluate the potential for sustainability of the BUD app. Methods Secondary data analysis of in-depth interviews (n = 17) conducted in 2016 among local food environment experts, corner store owners, distributors, and wholesalers was completed with the purpose of understanding existing networks of local food distribution, and barriers to increasing food access among stakeholders in the Baltimore food environment. Primary data collection was conducted in 2020–2021 with local stakeholders (n = 10) to confirm and expand upon these findings. Results Existing community distributor partnerships with corner stores and producers contribute to local food networks. Community food distributors with an established connection to wholesalers and urban farmers offer more direct access to fresh produce, but delivery is costly for corner stores. The BUD app could facilitate the arrangement of collective delivery services between distributors, urban farmers and corner stores. Potential barriers include a lack of demand for produce from consumers and a need for community engagement to be incorporated into the app. Conclusions Our findings suggest that enhancing community partnerships is a viable method for distributing fresh foods to local corner stores in Baltimore. Further research is needed to identify ways to increase consumer demand for these foods at the corner store level, and to strengthen the local food distribution system in Baltimore. Funding Sources NHLBI, NIH, award number R34HL145368.

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Dietary Intakes of Arachidonic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid in Early Life - With a Special Focus on Complementary Feeding in Developing Countries

Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1159/000463396 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 70 (3) ◽

pp. 217-227 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Stewart Forsyth ◽

Sheila Gautier ◽

Norman Salem Jr.

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Arachidonic Acid ◽

Docosahexaenoic Acid ◽

Low Income ◽

Early Life ◽

Complementary Feeding ◽

Food Sources ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Dietary Intakes ◽

Complementary Foods

Background: In developing countries, dietary intakes of arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in early life are lower than current recommended levels. This review specifically focusses on the contribution that complementary feeding makes to ARA and DHA intakes in medium- to low-income countries. The aims of the review are (1) to determine the availability of ARA and DHA food sources in developing countries, (2) to estimate the contribution of complementary feeding to dietary intakes of ARA and DHA in infants aged 6-36 months, and (3) to relate the dietary ARA and DHA intake data to key socioeconomic and health indicators. Summary: The primary dietary data was collected by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) using Food Balance Sheets, and fatty acid composition was based on the Australian food composition tables. There is evidence of wide variation in per capita dietary intake for both DHA and ARA food sources, with low intakes of meat and seafood products being highly prevalent in most low-income countries. In children aged 6-36 months, the supply of ARA and DHA from the longer duration of breastfeeding in low-income countries is counterbalanced by the exceptionally low provision of ARA and DHA from complementary foods. The lowest tertile for ARA intake is associated with higher percentages of childhood stunting, birth rate, infant mortality, and longer duration of breast feeding. Key Message: In developing countries, intakes of DHA and ARA from complementary foods are low, and public health organisations need to adopt pragmatic strategies that will ensure that there is a nutritional safety net for the most vulnerable infants.

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