Health

Plant Genetic Engineering to Fight “Hidden Hunger”-ScienceDaily

More than 2 billion people worldwide suffer from micronutrient malnutrition due to mineral and vitamin deficiencies. Poor people in developing countries are most affected because their diet is usually dominated by a starchy staple food that is a cheap source of calories but does not contain micronutrients. In a new outlook article, an international team of scientists, including the University of Göttingen, explains how plant genetic engineering can help sustainably address micronutrient malnutrition.The article was published in Nature Communications..

Malnutrition of micronutrients causes serious health problems. For example, vitamin A and zinc deficiency are major risk factors for child mortality. Iron and folic acid deficiency contributes to anemia and physical and cognitive development problems. Often, the affected people are unaware of their undernourishment. Therefore, the term “hidden hunger” is also used. The long-term goal is for everyone to be aware of healthy nutrition and earn enough income to provide a balanced diet all year round. However, in the short and medium term, more targeted intervention is needed.

One intervention is to breed staple crops for higher micronutrient content, also known as “biofortification”. For the past two decades, the International Center for Agricultural Research has developed bioenriched crops using traditional breeding methods, including sweet potato and vitamin A-containing corn, and zinc-rich wheat and rice. These crops have been successfully released in various developing countries with proven nutritional and health benefits. However, traditional breeding approaches have certain limitations.

In the outlook article, scientists report how genetic engineering can help further enhance the benefits of biofortified crops. “The transgenic approach is more nutritious because it allows crops to achieve much higher micronutrient levels than traditional methods alone, which we have demonstrated with folic acid in rice and potatoes,” said the lead author of the article. Professor Dominique Van der Stryten of Ghent University said. “We were also able to significantly reduce post-harvest vitamin loss,” she adds.

Another advantage of genetic engineering is the ability to combine large amounts of micronutrients in the same crop. “This is very important because poor people often suffer from multiple micronutrient deficiencies,” says Dr. Howarth Buis, co-author and 2016 World Food Prize winner at the International Food Policy Research Institute. ..

Genetic engineering also helps to combine micronutrient properties with productivity-enhancing agricultural properties such as drought resistance and pest resistance, which are increasingly associated with climate change. “Farmers do not have to make difficult choices between crops that improve nutrition or enable productive and stable harvests. Both aspects need to be combined, which also supports widespread adoption. “Masu,” says Professor Matankaim, co-author of the University of Göttingen.

The authors admit that genetic engineering is skeptical of many, even though the resulting crops have been shown to be safe for human consumption and the environment. I will. One of the reasons for public reservation is that genetic engineering is often associated with large multinational corporations. “Since these crops are developed for humanitarian purposes, bioenriched crops may alleviate some of the concerns,” the authors say. “Public funding is the key to widespread acceptance.”

Story source:

material Provided by University of Göttingen.. Note: The content can be edited in style and length.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos

Pictures Credit