Re: [pronut-hiv] Biofortification Method (5)

["Kristof & Stacia Nordin" <nordin@eomw.net>]

Thanks for the summary and links to more information Bonnie.  You and I 
talked about this issues a few years ago, but there are a few key points you raise that I'd like to bring out in response today -

[>> Harvest Plus:  We do believe that dietary diversity is the solution for 
>> achieving nutrient sufficiency but we also recognize that income dictates consumption patterns and that diets of the poor are made up of 
predominantly staple foods (upwards of 70%).]

Stacia:  I think this is a key of where we differ in solutions.  Income may be a percieved reason why people choose the foods that they do, but a closer look at this with people often reveals that knowledge of food choices, food values and basic nutrition knowledge are the reasons - not poverty.  Often the local foods that could be diversified into are free, nutrient dense, open-polinated and require no synthetic chemical inputs of any kind.

[>> Harvest plus:  In some cases micronutrients are added to pest resistant varieties and therefore require fewer inputs (in terms of pesticide),]

Stacia:  There are already nutrient dense foods that require fewer inputs. 
More reasearch into what is already there should come before creating new 
varieties.  From your e-mail you have an amazing network of 46 institutes 
working together and taking a lot of time (7 years you report) to develop 
new varieties.  This synergy could be applied to research and application of what is there, and, addressing the root causes of the problem.

The foods don't need to change, the people do.

[>> Harvest plus:   Public goods  The products are made available 
>> license -free to national agricultural research systems in the developing world.]

Stacia:  Glad to hear it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stacia Nordin, RD
GTZ German / Malawi Basic Education Programme
MoE Sustainable School Food & Nutrition Programme
GTZ BEP, Box 31131, Lilongwe, Malawi
Tel:  + 265-(0)1-755-000 or (0) 1-757-358
Fax: + 265-(0)1-755-000
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Personal contacts:
Crossroads Post Dot Net X-124, Lilongwe, Malawi
Physical Location:  Chitedze Trading Centre, Lilongwe, Malawi (Africa)
+265  1-707-213  (home)
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nordin@eomw.net
www.NeverEndingFood.org (site being built)
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