MillNET_i

About the programme

MillNET_i is funded by a UKRI GCRF award, 'Food & nutrition research for health in the developing world: bioavailability & nutrient content', via the BBSRC. It is a two-year programme running from April 2019 to March 2021.

Programme Aims

The aim of the project is to improve iron nutrition status of people living in Ethiopia and The Gambia by assessing the bioavailability of iron from biofortified millet. Our multidisciplinary team is made up of experts from the fields of crop genetics, nutrition, social science and knowledge exchange. Ultimately we hope to optimise the availability of iron in food prepared from biofortified millet.

Institutions involved

MillNET_i brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Cambridge (Departments of Plant Sciences, Development Studies, MRC Bone Health group,  the Global Food Security IRC, the Cambridge Global Challenges SRI and the Cambridge-Africa Initiative), the Centre for Global Equality, NIAB, NIAB Innovation Farm,  MRC The Gambia, Bahir Dar University (Ethiopia) and ICRISAT (India, Ethiopia, Malawi),  King's College London, and Rothamsted Research, working with partner institutions JeCCDO and HarvestPlus.

Background

Millets

Millets are easy to grow, resilient to climate change and naturally rich in micronutrients. Traditionally, millets are consumed in Ethiopia and The Gambia, however recently preferences have shifted towards polished rice and other less nutritious foods.

Iron deficiency and Anaemia

Iron deficiency is very common in Ethiopia and The Gambia, where it often causes iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). Symptoms include fatigue, reduction of growth and development in children and more serious issues such as poor pregnancy outcomes, including maternal death. 

Addressing iron deficiency

There are existing intervention programmes that aim to address iron deficiency in Ethiopia and The Gambia. These programmes include the introduction of fortified foods that are artificially enriched in micronutrients, such as cooking oil and wheat flour that contain added iron and zinc.

The MillNET_i approach

MillNET_i is assessing biofortified pearl millet varieties that have been bred by partners at ICRISAT and HarvestPlus to have higher levels of iron and zinc. These varieties can be grown by local farmers and processed to flour and grains for food preparation. In Flagship Project 1: GROWTH, we will be looking at the genetic basis for these biofortification traits, and assessing how the biofortified varieties perform in different field conditions.

Iron (and zinc) in grains is usually attached to the natural compound phytate, forming a strong complex bond, which makes it difficult to digest. By activating the natural phytase enzyme, iron can be released so it can be taken up in the bloodstream after ingestion. Phytase can be activated by fermentation, soaking and some other traditional cooking methods.

To optimise the availability of the natural iron, the teams in Ethiopia and The Gambia will test and validate different meal preparations based on traditional recipes, to identify cooking methods which result in the most bioavailable iron. Selected meals will be validated in vitro using a cell system model and in human nutrition trials (Flagship Project 2: BIOAVAILABILITY and Flagship Project 3: PROCESSING).

Social scientists in FP3 will use quantitative and qualitative surveys to understand how millets are currently grown, processed, cooked and consumed in focus villages in The Gambia and Ethiopia. This work will focus on enhancing our understanding of existing practices in order to identify potential supply- and demand-side pathway for future interventions.

Flagship Project 4: EXTENSION will work with local communities in Ethiopia and The Gambia to disseminate the knowledge generated from our research. In Ethiopia we will work closely with JeCCDo to build capacity through community-based organisations. Discussions of the nutritional benefits of millets and optimal preparation methods of biofortified millet will be facilitated in both Ethiopia and The Gambia.

Team

Other programmes under this scheme

Image credit: Pearl millet, supplied by ICRISAT