HarvestPlus

📘 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲

Springer Nature has published Breeding Biofortified Millets for Nutritional Security—a timely new volume highlighting scientific innovations and global partnerships that are transforming millets into nutrient-dense crops to combat hidden hunger and improve public health.

The book showcases the latest advances in breeding iron-, zinc-, and calcium-rich millet varieties while exploring key developments in genetics, genomics, phenotyping, product development, seed systems, and commercialization.

The publication reflects decades of collaborative research involving HarvestPlus, CGIAR, ICRISAT, ICAR-Indian Council of Agricultural Research, national agricultural research systems, universities, and private-sector partners. Together, these collaborations have led to the development and release of biofortified pearl millet varieties with significantly higher iron and zinc content, benefiting farming communities across India and several African countries.

The book also highlights the need for the Global Millet Alliance for Nutrition, which will bring together researchers, policymakers, development organizations, and industry partners to accelerate the adoption of nutritious, climate-resilient millets. By connecting scientific innovation with seed systems, nutrition programs, and market value chains, the alliance is helping expand the global impact of biofortified millets.

Bringing together contributions from leading millet experts, this volume is an important resource for researchers, students, policymakers, and development practitioners working to strengthen sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems, and global nutritional security.

Access the book here: https://link.springer.com/book/9789819598267

Read more about this book series here. https://link.springer.com/series/16642

𝐈𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚!
Country Manager at HarvestPlus Uganda Sylvia Magezi is excited to see the iron pearl millet lines in final testing, now on the NARO stalls at the Jinja agricultural market.

Soon farmers will have yet another hardy biofortified crop, and this one is suited for eastern and northern Uganda. Pearl millet is iron-rich and mainly used in porridges, atap or/and as an ingredient in snacks.

🧡🍠 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫-𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚. Vitamin A Cassava is a biofortified, climate-smart crop that is high-yielding, virus-resistant, and adapts well to poor soil conditions, even withstanding disease and drought. As an important staple food for hundreds of millions, regular consumption can provide up to 100% of the daily vitamin A requirements for children and women of reproductive age.

This is a sustainable solution to combat vitamin A deficiency, which can otherwise lead to childhood blindness and increase the risk of diseases. By 2021, 2.6 million households were growing this crop, which is being integrated into food value chains to produce commercial items like gari, snacks, and flour.

Learn how HarvestPlus is scaling this vital crop!

Vitamin A Cassava - HarvestPlus Vitamin A deficiency increases the risk of diseases such as diarrhea and measles and, when severe, can even lead to blindness in children. Cassava with higher levels of provitamin A has been shown to improve the vitamin A status of children when consumed boiled and mashed.   HarvestPlus works...

We’re proud to partner with the County Government of Bomet to expand opportunities for farmers through High Iron Bean contract farming. Together, we’re helping connect farmers to reliable markets while increasing access to nutritious, biofortified foods that strengthen livelihoods and food security. 🌱🤝

🇨🇩 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨 | 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐬
Even in challenging environments, sustainable partnerships can transform nutrition.

HarvestPlus Solutions continues to work alongside farmers, government institutions, and other partners to strengthen the iron bean value chain and improve food security. Over 30 million people representing 27% of the national population eating iron beans

Together, these achievements demonstrate that resilient food systems can flourish even in fragile contexts.

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚 | 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲
Strong policies create lasting nutrition impact.
HarvestPlus Solutions continues to support Indonesia's efforts to strengthen standards for biofortified rice while building sustainable farming systems.

Highlights
📋 National biofortified rice standard under development
🤝 Through partnership with CropLife Indonesia, more than 2,500 farmers and 1,000 women are gaining access to training, knowledge, and support networks that promote sustainable, nutrition-sensitive agriculture

By combining policy leadership with farmer support, Indonesia is laying the foundation for long-term nutrition security. HarvestPlus Solutions Indonesia

𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐡 | 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐙𝐢𝐧𝐜 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Bangladesh continues to demonstrate how investments in seed systems and capacity building of farmers can improve nutrition at scale.

In 2025, HarvestPlus Solutions worked alongside public and private sector partners to strengthen the zinc rice value chain, expanding access to nutritious rice for millions of families.
Key Highlights
🌾 34 million people consuming zinc rice, representing a 38% increase over last year
🌱 14,200 metric tons of zinc rice seed produced
👩‍🌾 18,000 people trained across the value chain of which 70% were women

By strengthening local seed systems and building capacity of smallholder farmers and SMEs, HarvestPlus Solutions is helping ensure nutritious rice reaches more farmers and consumers across Bangladesh. Learn more: https://harvestplus.solutions/annual-report/
HarvestPlus Solutions Bangladesh