Advances in breeding for enhanced iron and zinc concentration in common bean in Eastern Africa.

Micronutrient malnutrition is one of the most serious health challenges facing vast sectors of Africa's population particularly resource-poor women and children. Main deficiencies include iron, zinc and vitamin A. Plant breeding has frequently been advocated as the most sustainable strategy of providing varieties of different food crop species with enhanced micronutrient density to combat the global hidden hunger problem which affects more than 2 billion people.

Biofortification of common bean ( L.) with iron and zinc: Achievements and challenges.

Micronutrient deficiencies (hidden hunger), particularly in iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), remain one of the most serious public health challenges, affecting more than three billion people globally. A number of strategies are used to ameliorate the problem of micronutrient deficiencies and to improve the nutritional profile of food products. These include (i) dietary diversification, (ii) industrial food fortification and supplements, (iii) agronomic approaches including soil mineral fertilisation, bioinoculants and crop rotations, and (iv) biofortification through the implementation of biotechnology including gene editing and plant breeding.

Genetic diversity, inter-gene pool introgression and nutritional quality of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) from Central Africa.

The Great Lakes region of Central Africa is a major producer of common beans in Africa. The region is known for high population density and small average farm size. The common bean represents the most important legume crop of the region, grown on over a third of the cultivated land area, and the per capita consumption is among the highest in the world for the food crop.