Pearl millet biofortification towards health improvement and food security for vulnerable people living in the west part of Sudan

Pearl millet (  Pennisetum glaucum  ) is an essential food security crop for the people living in western Sudan. However, micronutrient malnutrition or "hidden hunger" is an alarming public health issue in Sudan.

More than 80% of the population are iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficient, while about 70% of women and pre-school children have low hemoglobin levels, mainly due to Fe deficiency.

These deficiencies cause havoc to the country population through malnutrition, including stunting, respiratory tract infections, malaria, and diarrhea.

Breeding pearl millet for increased grain minerals (biofortification) and improving human body processing are sustainable approaches to improving human health and well-being.Considerable variation for nutrition minerals exists in Sudanese millet varieties currently grown, landraces and wild relatives.

We will exploit this variation to improve the whole-grain product´s nutritional value by using traditional practices aided by cutting-edge technology to assess nutritional minerals and select the best pearl millet germplasm.

This project´s ultimate goal will be achieved through: 1) high-throughput phenotyping; 2) plant breeding strategies of reverse genetics and marker-assisted selection; 3) select superior lines for developing MAGIC population; and 4) Capacity building on research and development.The outcome of this project will develop a cost-effective sustainable solution and breeding methods for genetic enhancement of Zn and Fe in pearl millet