Biofortification versus diversification to fight micronutrient deficiencies: an interdisciplinary review

Eric Malézieux (), Eric O. Verger, Sylvie Avallone, Arlène Alpha, Peter Biu Ngigi, Alissia Lourme-Ruiz, Didier Bazile, Nicolas Bricas, Isabelle Ehret, Yves Martin-Prevel and Marie Josèphe Amiot
Additional contact information
Eric Malézieux: UPR HortSys
Eric O. Verger: MoISA, University of Montpellier, CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD
Sylvie Avallone: Université d’Avignon, Université de la Réunion
Arlène Alpha: MoISA, University of Montpellier, CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD
Peter Biu Ngigi: MoISA, University of Montpellier, CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD
Alissia Lourme-Ruiz: MoISA, University of Montpellier, CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD
Didier Bazile: UMR SENS
Nicolas Bricas: MoISA, University of Montpellier, CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD
Isabelle Ehret: MoISA, University of Montpellier, CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD
Yves Martin-Prevel: MoISA, University of Montpellier, CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD
Marie Josèphe Amiot: MoISA, University of Montpellier, CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD

Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, 2024, vol. 16, issue 1, No 15, 275 pages

Abstract: Summary Two plant production-based strategies – biofortification and dietary diversification – have been advocated to overcome micronutrient deficiencies, which are major contributors to morbidity and mortality worldwide. The respective benefits and effectiveness of these two strategies are the subject of controversy. Expanding the scope of this debate beyond the sole nutritional outcomes, and using a food system approach, this interdisciplinary review aims to providing a novel and holistic perspective on the ongoing debate. The literature shows that biofortification can be an effective medium-term strategy to tackle nutritional risk in vulnerable populations in some contexts, but that it also may have negative environmental, economic, and social impacts. Dietary diversification, on the other hand, is known to be a sustainable way to overcome micronutrient deficiencies, bringing with it long-term benefits, including nutritional, and beyond, the provision of ecosystem services. Dietary diversification is however challenging to implement, with benefits that are not immediate. Biodiversity as a basis of human diets is critically important to improving both human and environmental health. Diet diversification through increased mobilisation of biodiversity in food systems deserves much more attention and support in policies for food and nutrition in low- and middle-income countries.

Keywords: Biofortification; Diet diversification; Micronutrient deficiencies; Malnutrition; Food systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12571-023-01422-z Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:16:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s12571-023-01422-z

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer. ... ulture/journal/12571

DOI: 10.1007/s12571-023-01422-z

Access Statistics for this article

Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food is currently edited by R.N. Strange

More articles in Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food from Springer, The International Society for Plant Pathology
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().