Ending Stunting in Rural Africa through Enhanced Nutrition and Micro-Nutrients in Plants . It is not so much a question of more food. It is more a question of better food.

Stunting caused by chronic hunger and malnutrition will not be easily ended through food supplementation. With more than 35% of the children in rural Africa and more than 45% of the rural children in India stun ted, a global effort on the fundamental food crops of those populations must be improved to end stunting. This effort would be unprecedented in plant science. It is not a single crop but a large portfolio of diverse crops being worked on simultaneously that will allow the world to reduce the incidence of stunting and its devastating impact. This effort is underway with the African Orphan Crops Consortium. Using state of the art genomics, 101 key food crops of Africa will be breed for nutritional enhance ment, increased yields, climatic resistance, water and nutrient use efficiency, and pest and disease resistance. This is the first step in an improved nutritional and food security system. Presentation: 58 minute