Micronutrient MalnutritionMicronutrient MalnutritionIsmail Cakmak

Sabanci University, Istanbul

Some WHO Major Risk Factors Causing World Deaths in 2000

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000

Malnutrition

Tobacco

Unsafe sex

Alcohol

Unsafe water,sanitation, hygiene

Occupational safety

Ris

k F

acto

r

Number of Deaths (X1000)(World Health Report, 2002)

Some Major World Risk Factors Causing DeathsSome Major World Risk Factors Causing Deaths

Malnutrition accounts of ≈ 30 million deaths per year (≈ 1 death per second) (WHO estimate)

Ris

k F

acto

r

Number of Deaths x1000

Leading 10 Risk Factors in Developing Countries% Cause of Disease Burden (WHO, 2002)

Underweight 14.9%

Unsafe sex 10.2%

Unsafe water 5.5%

Indoor smoke 3.7%

Zinc DeficiencyZinc Deficiency 3.2%3.2%Iron deficiencyIron deficiency 3.1%3.1%Vitamin A deficiency 3.0%

Blood pressure 2.5%

Tobacco 2.0%

Cholesterol 1.9% WHO, 2002

Copenhagen Consensus-2004Copenhagen Consensus-2004Worldwide Panel of Distinguished Economists

including Nobel Prize-Winners

Top Four Global ChallengesTop Four Global Challenges

Source:: http://www.copenhagenconsensus.com

1- Control of HIV/AIDS2- Providing adequate amount of2- Providing adequate amount of micronutrients (Fe, Zn..) to human micronutrients (Fe, Zn..) to human populationspopulations3- Trade Liberalization4- Control of Malaria

Nearly the half of world population

affected from micronutrient deficiencies

Welch and Graham, 1999; Field Crops Res

Zinc deficiencyZinc deficiency

Moderate

Not sufficient data available

Low

High

Zinc deficiencyZinc deficiency:: global nutritional problem in human beingsglobal nutritional problem in human beings

Courtesy of Dr. J.VeenemansWageningen University

Zinc and Iron Zinc and Iron deficiencies affect a deficiencies affect a range of functionsrange of functions::

• Immunity• Growth

• Lower work productivity

• Higher morbidity/mortality

• Lower cognitive ability• Brain development • Reproduction

ReasonReason: High consumption of cereal based foods with low Zn and Fe content

Cereals have inherentlyinherently low concentrations of Zn and Fe in grain, particularly when grown

on micronutrient-deficient soils

Currently, nearly 50 % of the global cereal Currently, nearly 50 % of the global cereal growing regions are on soils having growing regions are on soils having

low levels of available soil low levels of available soil ZnZn

Widespread Deficiency

Medium Deficiency Zinc Deficiency Affected Areas

Zinc Deficiency is also Global Micronutrient Deficiency in Soils

(Alloway, 2004, In: Zinc in soils and Crop Nutrition. IZA Publications, Brussels)

For a better ZnFor a better Zn or Fe or Fe nutrition of nutrition of

human beingshuman beings, , cerealcereal grains grains should contain around should contain around 40-60 mg kg-1 Zn or Feor Fe

Current Situation: 10-30 mg kg-1

Estimation:

Global Challenge:Global Challenge:ImprovImprovee Zn Zn and Fe and Fe Density in Density in Food CropsFood Crops

Solutions to Zinc and Fe Solutions to Zinc and Fe DeficienciesDeficiencies

in Human Beingsin Human Beings•Supplementation Supplementation •Food FortificationFood Fortification (Expensive approaches)

Agricultural StrategiesAgricultural Strategies- - Breeding:Breeding: Genetic Biofortification Genetic Biofortification

- - FertilizerFertilizers:s: Agronomic Agronomic BiofortificationBiofortification

HarvestPlusHarvestPlusBiofortification Challenge Program

Main Sponsors:Main Sponsors: Gates Foundation and World Bank

Breeding new cereal cultivars with new cereal cultivars with high micronutrient content in high micronutrient content in cereal cereal graingrainss

Quick Solution to Problem: Quick Solution to Problem:

Application of Zn-Containing Application of Zn-Containing FertilizersFertilizers

++ZnZn-Zn-Zn

++ZnZn-Zn-Zn

++ZnZn

Zinc Deficiency in Central Anatolia

0

100

200

300

400

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Use of Zn-enriched NP and NPK fertilizers in Turkey following “NATO-Zinc Project”

Sources: Turkish Ministry of Agriculture, 2004; TOROS Tarım, 2007

Years

1000

to

ns

Detection of Zn deficiency in

wheat in Central Anatolia

Zn-fertilizer market: nearly

>200 mio USD/year

0

100

200

300G

rain

Se

len

ium

, µ

g k

g-1

’84 ’86 ’88 ’90 ’92 ’94 ’96 ’98 ’00 ’02 ’04

Y E A R S

16 mg kg-16 mg kg-1 10 mg kg-1

Similar Approach in Finland:Enrichment Fertilizers with Selenium Increased Grain

Selenium and Contributed to Human Health

Courtesy of Jr. Combs, slide redrawn

Na2SeO4added toNPK fertilizers

for cereals

A New HarvestPlus ProjectAgronomic Biofortification

Use of Zinc-ContainingUse of Zinc-Containing Fertilizers for Enriching Fertilizers for Enriching

Cereal Grains with Zinc and Cereal Grains with Zinc and Improving Yield Improving Yield

HarvestPlusAgronomic Biofortification Project

Supporting Partners Mosaic Company-USA K+S Kali GmbH-Germany HarvestPlus-USA International Zinc Association-USA OMEX Agriculture-UK International Fertilizer Industry Assoc.-France

International Plant Nutrition Institute-USA

Scientific Coordination Sabanci University, Istanbul-Turkey

Collaborating Institutions-Target Countries-

• BRAZIL: EMPRABA-Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation,

• CHINA: China Agricultural University, Beijing• INDIA: The Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New

Delhi• ZIMBABWE: University of Zimbabwe • MOZAMBIQUE: Instituto de Investigacao Agraria de

Mocambique (IIAM); Maputo • PAKISTAN: National Agricultural Research Center,

Islamabad• THAILAND: Chiang Mai University• TURKEY: Ministry of Agriculture

Internat. ZincAssoc. USA

OMEX Ltd.England

Mosaic Co.USA

K+S GmbHGermany

Supporting Partners Supporting Partners

Institutional Organization

Consortium Institution

CHINACAU: China Agric.

University

INDIAIARI: Indian

Agric. Res. Inst.

TURKEYMinistry of Agriculture

THAILANDChiang Mai University

PAKISTANNARC: Nat.

Agric. Res. Cen.

MOZAMBIQUE

IIAM: Inst Inv Agr Moz

BRAZILEMBRAPA:

Agr. Res. Corp.

Collaborating Countries/Institutions

Int. Fertilizer Ind. Assoc.

France

Int. Plant Nutr. Inst. USA

ZIMBABWESoil Fertility Cons.

for Southern Africa

Coordinating Institution