Innovative Approach to Address the Dilemma of "Hidden Hunger"

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this paper is to illustrate the importance of micronutrients and the consequences of not having enough amount of these nutrients in our diet. The paper also focuses on the innovative approach and the strategy being adopted by Crops For the Future Research Centre to address this problem. Methods: To achieve its objective, Crops For the Future Research Centre under one of its programme, FoodPLUS will lead to the identification of dietary needs, the increased use of a diverse array of crops for the benefit of consumer health, more efficient land use and the delivery of nutritionally superior products through sustainable and economically efficient supply chains. Results: Through its approach and strategy, it is expected that the programme will achieve multiple objectives such as, a range of plant-based foods, especially from underutilised fruits and vegetables will be available for the community to improve its nutritional status, the leakages of desired nutrients along the supply chain will be reduced with measureable  impacts  on the community's nutritional status, novel techniques will be developed to minimise post-harvest quantitative and qualitative losses of micronutrients along the chain and new methods will be devised to increase the bioavailability of desired nutrients extracted from underutilised fruits and vegetables. Conclusions: It is intended that FoodPLUS Programme will be able to contribute to the improvement of community nutrition through the diversification of diets that include identifying the availability of micronutrients obtainable from underutilised fruits and vegetables.