Golden maize varieties (High provitamin A)

Nutrition-boosting, income-enhancing maize.

These maize varieties have distinctive orange kernels, a result of high beta-carotene content. They are developed through advanced breeding techniques, combining naturally provitamin A enriched lines from Central and South America with elite land races and hybrid lines with improved agronomic traits.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

7•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 7/9; level of use 7/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

It provides improved nutrition, helping to address vitamin A deficiencies

The poor: Positive high

It offers affordable access to essential nutrients, reducing healthcare costs associated with malnutrition.

Under 18: Positive high

It helps combat malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency, which is especially crucial for children's growth, immune system development, and overall health.

Women: Positive high

Women, particularly pregnant and nursing mothers, benefit from better nutrition, reducing risks to maternal and child health.

Climate adaptability: Moderately adaptable

These varieties are bred to be more resilient to various environmental conditions, making them adaptable to climate variability.

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

These varieties help farmers adapt to climate change by providing a resilient, nutrient-enriched crop.

Soil quality: Does not affect soil health and fertility

The cultivation of these varieties could promote better land use management when coupled with sustainable farming practices.

Water use: Same amount of water used

These varieties are expected to have similar water requirements as conventional maize

Problem

Widespread Vitamin A Deficiency: A significant portion of the population, particularly children and adults, suffer from inadequate vitamin A levels. This leads to preventable cases of blindness and compromises immune system function, increasing susceptibility to diseases like measles, diarrhea, and respiratory infections.
Malnutrition and Weak Immunity: Common maize varieties lack essential vitamins and minerals, contributing to widespread malnutrition and weakened immunity. This puts 50% of children aged 0.5 to 5 years at risk of vitamin A deficiency, leading to serious health complications and reduced quality of life.

Solution

Addressing Vitamin A Deficiency:

Provitamin A enriched maize varieties provide a stable source of essential nutrients, combating deficiencies.
Preservation of beta-carotene ensures a consistent supply of vitamin A.
Genomic modification maintains nutrient content without compromising yield.

Combatting Malnutrition and Weak Immunity:

Cost-effective approach for regions heavily reliant on maize.
Tailored to meet nutritional needs, providing a significant portion of daily vitamin A requirement.
Accessible and adaptable for diverse farming systems.

Key points to design your program

A Golden Solution for Maize Farming in Africa

Golden maize varieties are vitamin A-enriched orange-fleshed maize developed to combat nutrition deficiencies while enhancing agricultural productivity. They offer high yields, disease resistance, and adaptability to diverse agro-climatic conditions, making them ideal for regions grappling with food insecurity and climate-related challenges.

Golden maize varieties align with key Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 2 by improving food security and reducing malnutrition, SDG 3 by promoting better health through enhanced nutrition, and SDG 13 by fostering climate-resilient agricultural practices.

As part of the Maize Innovation Toolkit, these varieties complement other technologies such as Pre-emergence herbicides for maize crops technology, ensuring higher productivity and economic returns for smallholder farmers.

Golden maize varieties have been introduced in Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda through the Enabling Sustainable Regional Agricultural Extension (ENSURE) project, funded by the African Development Bank.

With the support of AATF organizations, golden maize varieties are driving progress in maize farming across Africa, offering both health and economic benefits to communities in need.

Cost: $$$ 0.8—1.2 USD

per kg

10—20 %

Revenue increased

IP

Open source / open access

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Cameroon	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Democratic Republic of the Congo	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Ghana	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Malawi	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Mali	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Rwanda	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Tanzania	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Zambia	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Zimbabwe	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid	–	–	–	–
Semiarid	–		–
Subhumid	–		–
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 2: zero hunger

It addresses malnutrition and hidden hunger by increasing provitamin A content in maize

Goal 3: good health and well-being

It helps reduce vitamin A deficiency, which can lead to severe health issues such as blindness and immune system problems.

Goal 13: climate action

By improving yields under less predictable weather conditions, golden maize supports sustainable farming that reduces vulnerability to climate-related risks.

Variety Selection: Choose the specific Provitamin A Enriched Golden Maize variety best suited for your region. Refer to local agricultural guidelines for recommended planting practices.
Soil and Fertilizer Management: Conduct a soil test to assess nutrient levels and pH balance. Adjust fertilization based on the requirements of the chosen maize variety.
Consider Intercropping or Rotation: In areas with low soil fertility, consider intercropping Provitamin A Enriched Golden Maize with legumes or rotating with other crops. This practice enhances nutrient availability and water retention, benefiting the specific characteristics of this maize variety.
Monitor Growth and Pest Control: Regularly monitor the growth of Provitamin A Enriched Golden Maize, paying close attention to signs of pests or diseases that may affect this specific variety. Apply recommended pest control measures as needed.
Harvesting: Time the harvest for when kernels of the specific Provitamin A Enriched Golden Maize variety are fully mature and dry. This is typically indicated by a change in color and texture.
Storage and Processing: Store harvested maize in dry, well-ventilated conditions to prevent moisture-induced spoilage while ensuring the specific provitamin A content of this maize variety is retained. Use processing methods that minimize oxidation.