Zinc-enriched fertilisers as a potential public health intervention in Africa

Abstract

Background In this review, we examine the potential of Zn-enriched fertilisers to alleviate human dietary Zn deficiency. The focus is on ten African countries where dietary Zn supply is low and where fertiliser subsidies are routinely deployed on cereal crops. Scope Dietary Zn supply and deficiency prevalence were quantified from food supply and composition data. Typical effects of soil (granular) and foliar Zn applications on Zn concentrations in maize (Zea mays L.), rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grains were based on a systematic literature review. Reductions in disease burdens attributable to Zn deficiency and cost-effectiveness were estimated using a disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) approach. Conclusions Baseline Zn supply in 2009 ranged from 7.1 (Zambia) to 11.9 (Mali) mg capita −1 day −1

Fortification of micronutrients for efficient agronomic production: a review

“…As such, a micronutrient deficiency in food crops, due to its lack in soil, could translate to micronutrient deficiency in humans (White and Broadley 2009;Martínez-Ballesta et al 2010;Joy et al 2015;Oliver and Gregory 2015). In countries where staple foods consist mainly of cereals and tubers grown in nutrient-poor soils, human micronutrient deficiency, especially of Zn, is widespread, representing a major cause of stunting and child death.…”

“…In countries where staple foods consist mainly of cereals and tubers grown in nutrient-poor soils, human micronutrient deficiency, especially of Zn, is widespread, representing a major cause of stunting and child death. Hence, micronutrient fertilization of crops (in other words, agronomic fortification), in addition to increasing crop yield for human consumption, may address crop nutritional quality and attendant micronutrient dietary concerns in human health (Cakmak 2009;White and Brown 2010;Joy et al 2015).…”

Valuing increased zinc (Zn) fertiliser-use in Pakistan

“…From 15 studies of wheat, comprising 196 combinations of location, cultivar and application rate, granular (soil-applied) and foliar Zn fertilisers resulted in median increases in grain Zn concentration of 19 % and 63 %, respectively ( Fig. 5; Joy et al 2015b). We therefore assumed that granular fertilisers increased grain Zn concentration by 19 %, from a baseline of 23.6 mg kg −1 (i.e.…”

“…The use of Zn fertilisers can also increase Zn concentration in the endosperm of cereal-grains, thereby reducing risks to consumers of dietary Zn deficiency (Cakmak 2009;Broadley 2009, 2011;Cakmak et al 2010;Joy et al 2015b). The impact of increased dietary Zn intake and subsequent reductions in Zn deficiency within populations can be quantified using a Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) framework (Murray 1994;Stein et al 2005Stein et al , 2006Stein 2014).…”

“…For example, Joy et al (2015b) estimated that foliar Zn application to 75 % of cereals in 10 countries in subSaharan Africa could increase Zn intakes by~1.0 mg Zn capita −1 d −1 , saving 0.5 M DALYs annually at a cost of US$ 46-347 per DALY saved. In comparison, Stein et al (2006) estimated that biofortification of high-Zn rice and wheat varieties through breeding could save up to 55 % of the 2.8 M DALYs lost annually due to Zn deficiency in India at a cost of US$ 0.68-8.80 per DALY saved.…”