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
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