Biofortification is the way to go in Nigeria

A significant effort is being made to develop new varieties of staple crops to combat hunger, under-nutrition, and malnutrition, with these biofortified crops being made available in 40 countries. These crops, including pro-vitamin A-rich sweet potato, iron beans, pearl millet, yellow cassava, and orange maize, among others, are 1.5 to three times more nutritious than traditional varieties. The initiative aims to address micronutrient deficiencies, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and also to boost farmers' income. The Commercialisation of Biofortified Crops (CBC) Programme in Nigeria is expected to benefit 15 million people, improving diet quality and tackling hidden hunger. Internationally, efforts are underway to ensure that maize-based agri-food systems are healthy and nutritious, with a focus on breeding maize varieties rich in provitamin A and zinc, and promoting the traditional technique of nixtamalisation to improve the nutritional quality of maize-based food products.