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| Biography |
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Food Engineer, MSc in Food Science at the State University of Campinas,Brazil(1986),Post-Graduate Course in Nutritional Planning at the University of Gent, Belgium (1980) and in Consumer Studies at the University of Guelph,Canada(1985). Full time researcher and lecturer at the Department of Nutrition and Food Planning,State University of Campinas(1983-1987),being responsible for courses and examination committees.Technical Director of Nutricia S.A-Produtos Dieteticos e Nutricionais, leading a group of 40 researchers mainly oriented at R&D of Foods for Special Dietary Uses. Director of Embrapa Food Technology (1996 -2003).Brazilian delegate at the Codex Alimentarius Committee in Food Labeling since 1997, the Codex Alimentarius ad hoc Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology (Japan) since 2000. Member of the Interministerial Group for the Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods, representing the Minister of Agriculture and Supply. Member of FAO/WHO Expert Consultation "Safety Aspects of Genetically Modified Foods of Plant Origin", expert of FAO/WHO in Biosafety. Coordinator of the Latin American activities for the Harvest Plus, focus on Biofortification of crops in order to improve human nutrition and health, being responsible for the interface between breeding, biotechnology, food technology and nutrition activities .Researcher at Embrapa, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, in food safety, nutrition, biosafety and labeling of genetically modified foods.
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| Abstract |
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Progress in Brazil in the field of Biofortification. Harvest Plus |
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HarvestPlus, is a innovation proposal, with a multidisciplinary team in the areas of plant breeding, biotechnology, human nutrition, food science and economy, in order to fight micronutrient deficiency . In Brazil, this project is coordinated by EMBRAPA, having important alliances with, Universities, NGO s and private sector. The project team expects to develop and diffuse technologies that will have good acceptance among the farmers and can cause an impact in the health of the population. In NE Brazil, levels of iron deficiency anemia approach that of 50% of children under 2 years Vitamin A deficiency is a chronic problem impacting mainly low income children in parts of North, North East and South East Brazil. The main areas of research of HarvestPlus in Brazil are cassava, maize and common beans, with improved levels of provitamin A, Iron and Zinc. The screening of germplasm banks of these crops has indicated promising varieties for the breeders, which expects to increase the micronutrient content by conventional breeding. South-South collaboration has been carried out with ten African countries, in order to develop local capacity for carotenoid analysis, when a hands on training course for carotenoid detection and analysis were performed in Tanzania, July 2005. March 2005, the Brazilian HarvestPlus team of plant breeders and nutritionists presented the state of research on biofortified crops for Brazil to an audience of Brazilian policy makers and national scientists who are critical for paving the pathway and enabling biofortification as a viable strategy to reduce micronutrient malnutrition. For 2006, the team will also work in the screening of local germplasm of cowpea, wheat and sweet potato. |
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