Action Title: Mineral-improved Crop Production for Healthy Food and Feed Action number:FA0905 Start date: 05.04.

2010 End date: 05.04.2014

Global Donor Platform for Rural Development

COST Action:
Scientific network centred around nationally funded research projects in fields of a selected topic EU-oriented, open to non-EU Organized in working groups 2 (combined) WG meetings each year Additional tools: work shops Short-term scientific missions
Global Donor Platform for Rural Development

Anorexia, weight loss Bone loss;

Zn, Cu, Mg, Ca

Depression, mood lability, Cognitive deficits

Zn, Fe, Mg

Impaired wound healing - Zn

Anaemia (Fe, Cu)

Hormonal disorders

Micronutrient deficiency

Myopathy (Mg, Se)

Richard MJ, Roussel AM Proc Nutr Soc 1999

Global Donor Platform for Rural Development

Anorexia, weight loss Bone loss;

Zn, Cu, Mg, Ca

Depression, mood lability, Cognitive deficits

Zn, Fe, Mg

Impaired wound healing - Zn

Anaemia (Fe, Cu)

Hormonal disorders

Micronutrient deficiency

Myopathy (Mg, Se)

Richard MJ, Roussel AM Proc Nutr Soc 1999

Global Donor Platform for Rural Development

Reasons behind Zn and Fe Deficiency

Major reason is low dietary intake Zn and Fe deficiencies are common in predominantly cereal based diet countries. Wheat is a staple crop > 50% of daily calories come from wheat in many developing countries

Global Donor Platform for Rural Development

5
Kutman et al.(2010)

Scientific context and objectives

Global food systems => insufficient essential minerals Boost nutritional value of food: increase levels of Fe, Zn, Mg, Se decrease levels of Cd and As Enhance bioavailability of essential minerals in edible crops Integrate production chain from plant-soil interaction to human/animal consumption.

Global Donor Platform for Rural Development

Working groups
WG1: Soil-plant interactions

WG2: Biological features of plants

WG3: Plant products and human nutrition

Participants: 230 scientists 160 institutions 30 countries (non-cost: Australia, USA, South Africa, Iran, India)

Global Donor Platform for Rural Development

Results vs. Objectives

WG1
LA-ICP-MS Test
No Foliar Zn Application
2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 Distance (m)
25
Zn concentration (mg/kg)
Zn concentration (mg/kg)

Zn concentration (mg/Kg)

Zn concentration (mg/Kg)

Biofortificaton of food crops Foliar spray of Zn leads to Zn increases in grain

20 15 10 5 0 0

Endosperm

cr

500

1000 Distance (m)

1500

2000

Foliar Zn Application at Stem Elongation and Booting Stages

2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 Distance (m)

25 20 15 10 5 0 0 200

Endosperm

cr

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Distance (m)

Foliar Zn Application at Milk and Dough Stages

2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 Distance (m)
Zn concentration (mg/kg)

25
Zn concentration (mg/kg)

20 15 10 5 0 0 200

Endosperm

cr

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

Distance (m)

Cakmak et al., 2010, J. Agric. Food. Chem. 58:9092-9102

Global Donor Platform for Rural Development

WG2
QTL and breeding /selection approaches result in low amounts of As in rice

Mutagenesis approach for Cd-excluding wheat cultivar, also good for biofortification of Zn, Fe and se

0.8
0.7

Rice grain arsenic concentration (mg/kg)

0.6
0.5 0.4

0.3
0.2

0.1
0.0

Rice variety

(Norton et al. 2009. Environ. Sci. Technol. 43, 60706075)

Global Donor Platform for Rural Development

WG2 Activation of OsNAS2 enhances Fe bioavailability

No Fe

No Fe, high pH

Global Donor Platform for Rural Development

WG2
WT

Engineering of Zn deficiency tolerance

WT WT

4 weeks 6 weeks

- Zn

7(3)

7(4)

10(3)

WT

10(9)

14(9)

14(10)

+ Zn

WT

transgenic

WT

transgenic

WT

Global Donor Platform for Rural Development

WG3

Maize grain and soil surveys reveal suboptimal dietary selenium intake is widespread in Malawi

Chilimba e.a. 2012 Scientific Reports 1 :72

Global Donor Platform for Rural Development