Promoting Biofortified Crops: A Call to Action from Farm Scientist

Biofortified food crops, particularly grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits, supply adequate quantities of micronutrients to targeted populations.

He emphasized the need for a larger food pool to alleviate malnutrition, enough seed production, and pricing advantages for farmers.

On Sunday, Mohapatra, a former Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and former Director General of the Directorate of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), delivered the first K Ramiah Foundation Day talk at the National Rice Research Institute (NRRI). He stated that the world food system is currently under threat from three 'Cs': climate change, covid, and conflicts.

Speaking at length on nutrition security through various food crops to combat malnutrition, the senior rice scientist outlined the priorities for farm scientists, farmers, policymakers, and media personnel, stating that a sustainable food system incorporates social, economic, and environmental considerations. "Unfortunately, we don't often think about the global sustainable food system," he remarked.

Undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality are the four major indicators of the Global Hunger Index (GHI), according to Mohapatra. He stated that the 2022 GHI score for the World was 18.2 and was considered moderate, a modest decrease from the 2014 level of 19.1, and that the majority of ill children are from Asia and Africa.

On the occasion, NRRI also inked two memorandums of understanding with businesspeople. On the same day, two new in-house magazines were released. Farmers, scientists, and retired personnel were also recognised for their contributions to the institute.