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Economics of biofortification
Author(s) -
Qaim Matin,
Stein Alexander J.,
Meenakshi J. V.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
agricultural economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.29
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1574-0862
pISSN - 0169-5150
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-0862.2007.00239.x
Subject(s) - biofortification , micronutrient , malnutrition , micronutrient deficiency , agriculture , developing country , psychological intervention , economics , ex ante , microbiology and biotechnology , staple food , business , economic growth , natural resource economics , public economics , medicine , biology , ecology , macroeconomics , pathology , psychiatry
Micronutrient malnutrition is a serious public health problem in many developing countries. Different interventions are currently used, but their overall coverage is relatively limited. Biofortification—that is, breeding staple food crops for higher micronutrient contents—is a new agriculture‐based approach, but relatively little is known about its ramifications. Here, the main factors influencing success are discussed and a methodology for economic impact assessment is presented. Ex ante studies from India and other countries suggest that biofortified crops can reduce the problem of micronutrient malnutrition in a cost‐effective way, when targeted to specific situations. Further research is needed to corroborate these findings and address certain issues still unresolved.