Biofortified pearl millet can fight India's iron deficiency problem

Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia which limits brain development and learning capacity

Biofortified bajra (pearl millet) introduced into the diet of Indian adolescents led to reduced iron deficiency and improved learning skills and mental ability, a new study found.

Biofortification is a process by which the nutritional value of a crop is improved through conventional plant breeding or bio-technology. This is different from fortification, a post-harvest process adopted by the food industry, mostly for salt, atta (wheat flour) and milk.

A randomised double-blind trial–where both participants and researchers are unaware which group is being given the intervention–was conducted in Maharashtra for six months among 140 adolescents aged between 12 and 16. One set consumed