Embrapa research seeks to increase zinc content in rice in Maranhão

A rice rich in micronutrients – biofortified rice – is in the process of being developed by Embrapa. The objective is to achieve desirable zinc levels to produce benefits for human nutrition. The research project - developed by Embrapa Cocais in partnership with Embrapa Arroz e Feijão and Embrapa Agroindústria de Alimentos within the scope of the BioFORT Network - also seeks agronomic or sensorial characteristics of interest, attractive to farmers and consumers.

“The biofortification process is carried out by crossing the best strains of plants of the same species, known as conventional genetic improvement, generating more nutritious cultivars. In addition to nutritional quality, good agronomic characteristics are also incorporated, such as productivity, grain quality and resistance to diseases, which, in turn, generates good market acceptance”, explains Embrapa Cocais researcher Guilherme Barbosa.

One of the research actions was the characterization for zinc content of the 550 genotypes from Embrapa's nuclear collection, which represent all genetic variability in the Company's germplasm bank. “The variation in zinc content ranged between 11,2 and 45,7 ppm (parts per million). In rice cultivation sold in Maranhão, the average zinc content found is 16 ppm. We found a lineage with a maximum value of 45 ppm and we are crossing it with commercial cultivars, aiming to test these progenies in Maranhão. We want to access zinc content greater than 28 ppm and that combines all the desirable characteristics. The expectation is that we will reach a biofortified cultivar within 10 years”, he adds.

The partial results of the research project were presented by Guilherme Barbosa this year at the annual meeting of the Central American Cooperative Program for Crop and Animal Improvement – ​​PCCMCA, held between April 29th and May 03rd in Honduras, whose theme was “ Crop biofortification and climate adaptation for food and nutritional security".

Embrapa's nuclear rice collection was created in 2002, with 550 accessions to obtain a representative amount of the genetic variability of the germplasm bank. Of the 550 lines in the nuclear collection, 308 are traditional varieties cultivated throughout Brazil, 94 from Brazilian breeding programs and 148 from other countries. Of this total, 186 accessions are for the irrigated cultivation system, 281 accessions for cultivation in highlands and 83 accessions for facultatives (cultivated in both conditions). 

biofortified foods 

The essence of the biofortification program is to enrich foods that are already part of the diet of the neediest population, such as rice, beans, cowpeas, cassava (cassava trees), sweet potatoes, corn, pumpkin and wheat, by increasing the levels of iron, zinc and vitamin A, introducing more nutritious foods into these people's diets. The objective is to reduce malnutrition and ensure greater food security, in addition to combating the so-called “hidden hunger”, which is the specific lack of micronutrients. To this end, it also seeks to promote increased production and consumption of biofortified foods in the various regions of Brazil, through the strengthening of a network for the transfer of technologies with national coverage.

BioFORT Network 

Set of projects responsible for food biofortification in Brazil. It is coordinated by Embrapa Agroindústria de Alimentos, with several Embrapa Units participating, such as Embrapa Cocais. In Brazil, the BioFORT program brings together more than 150 people in different areas of knowledge and in 14 Brazilian states. This network interacts with universities, national and international research centers, producer associations, government, city halls and non-governmental organizations. The Brazilian biofortification program is supported by the HarvestPlus program, a research consortium that operates in Latin America, Africa and Asia with financial resources from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank and international development agencies. As in Brazil, similar projects are being carried out in Colombia, Peru, Nicaragua, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mozambique, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with each country acting according to its peculiarities and demands. 

Maranhão reaps the fruits of BioFORT 

In Maranhão, biofortified crops have been implemented since 2006, initially by Embrapa Meio-Norte. Currently, in addition to research actions for the development of rice cultivars, Embrapa Cocais' activities cover two other fronts: actions arising from the Technical Cooperation Agreement between Embrapa and the Government of the State of Maranhão, signed in April 2017, whose objective is the transfer of technology in biofortified crops, aiming at food and nutritional security, especially for the most needy communities and regions; and the technology transfer and business communication project approved within the scope of Embrapa.