Meet Carolina Claudio Rio, a scientist working in the cutting-edge field of biofortification. Carolina is a nutritionist at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), which coordinates Brazil’s globally respected biofortification program, BioFORT Network. Thanks to BioFORT, Brazilian farmers and their families now have access to nutritious varieties of their staple food crops, including high-iron beans and cowpeas, and vitamin A-rich cassava and sweet potato.
Carolina’s research, like that of her colleagues at Embrapa, ensures that BioFORT’s work to develop and promote biofortified crops is grounded on scientific evidence. Here, Carolina reflects on her entry into the field of biofortification, the role of women in nutrition, and the people she looks up to.