BC Plus Receives Grant to Fight Malnutrition in the Developing World
April 15, 2011| |
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center has received an $8.3 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which will be used to support Phase II of BioCassava Plus (BC Plus). BC Plus is a project developed for the reduction of malnutrition through the improvement of the nutritional value of cassava, a staple crop consumed by over 250 million sub-Saharan African and nearly 700 million people worldwide.
"Beta-carotene, the precursor to vitamin A, and iron are contained in various foods today, but those foods are scarce, unavailable, or too expensive for many people in Nigeria and Kenya," said Dr. Mantin Fregene, project director of BC Plus. "Increasing nutrients in local cassava varieties will make it both accessible and affordable for communities to improve their own nutrition."
The team of researchers who will be continuing the project includes experts from the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, National Root Crops Research Institute, and Kenya Agricultural Research Institute.
For more information, visit http://www.danforthcenter.org/science/programs/international_programs/bcp/.
| |
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- Sustainable, Profitable and Productive Agriculture Continues to be Boosted by the Contribution of Biotech Crops
- Experts Share Lessons on Communicating Biotechnology
- New Golden Rice Partners Join Forces Against Vitamin A Deficiency
- Biosciences Key to Africa Feeding Itself, said Calestous Juma
- BC Plus Receives Grant to Fight Malnutrition in the Developing World
- USDA Agro-research Czar Advocates Agricultural Technologies
- New Pest Monitoring Website by ISU Simplifies Management of Crop Pests
- Application for Non-regulated Status of GM Roses at US Federal Register
- USDA Grants Support Sustainable Bioenergy Production
- Drought –Exposed Leaves Adversely Affect Soil Nutrients, Study Shows
- Combating Global Fungi Disease that Threatens Food Supply and Forests
- Special Edition of M&M'S® with Sub1 gene
- BRRI Releases Two New Stress-Tolerant Rice Varieties
- Genetically Modified Products Regulated in Vietnam
- Hanoi Hosts Science Meeting with Asian Theme
- Vietnam, Cuba Enhance Science, Agriculture Cooperation
- Irish Farmers' Association President Acknowledge Benefits of GM Technology
- Spanish Farmers Demand More Available GM Crops
-
Research Highlights
- Scientists Conduct Woodlouse Feeding Experiment with Biotech Wheat
- Effect of Herbicide-tolerant Corn on the Abundance of Field Bugs in Spain
- Field Testing and Use of GM Cassava with Low Amylose Starch in Indonesia
-
Beyond Crop Biotech
- GM Cows Produce "Human" Milk
- TAL Effector Nucleases, a New Genetic Tool for Plant and Human Targets
-
Announcements
- Biotech Crops Cartoon 'Mandy & Fanny' Goes Online
-
Resources
- Why Genetically Modified Crops?
- Minireview: Biotechnological Approaches for Sesame and Niger
- USDA-FAS GAIN Report on Biotechnology in the People's Republic of China
- Book Addresses Changing Climate's Influence on Weeds
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (October 9, 2024)
- Gene Editing Supplement (September 26, 2024)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet