Kropff said Asian giant China may also begin adopting the fortified wheat varieties this year.
Over the next decade, he said he expects nearly all newly deployed wheat varieties to be nutritionally improved, noting that the high-zinc varieties were developed by traditional breeding techniques instead of research based on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This is something that is really starting in a big way this year, said Kropff, who also pointed to CIMMYT-developed zinc-enhanced corn that was introduced in Colombia over the past two years. I m super proud of this, he added, touting the seeds ability to dent malnutrition via one of the world s grains staples.
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EXCLUSIVE New zinc-fortified wheat set for global expansion to combat malnutrition
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Institute touts its zinc-fortified wheat varieties
Reuters, MEXICO CITY
Scientists at a leading global grains research institute expect to sharply ramp up new wheat varieties enriched with zinc that can boost the essential mineral for millions of poor people with deficient diets, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center director-general Martin Kropff said.
The newly developed high-zinc wheat is expected to make up at least 80 percent of varieties distributed worldwide over the next 10 years, up from about 9 percent currently, Kropff said.
The Mexico-based institute’s research focuses on boosting yields and livelihoods of the world’s poorest farmers, while also addressing specific challenges posed by high temperatures, low rainfall and plant diseases.