In many communities around the world, malnutrition remains a pressing issue, particularly among children. Simultaneously, diet-related chronic non-communicable diseases are on the rise in developed nations and urban areas of developing countries. Each of our partner countries faces a challenge: the limited availability of cost-effective, nutrient-rich flours for small-scale food producers.This scarcity subsequently results in a lack of affordable, nutrient dense (rich) foods for low to medium income rural and urban consumers – contributing to malnutrition.

These crops are then transformed into refined flours – and carefully blended to create nutrient dense (rich) composite flours – with improved bioavailability of nutrients.

Our research project revolves around innovation in the realm of well-known food crops like dry beans, maize, cassava, and vitamin A bio-fortified sweet potatoes (cultivated in South Africa, Jamaica, and the US). These crops are then transformed into nutrient-dense composite flours that enhance the bioavailability of iron and vitamin A, and improve protein quality.