HarvestPlus and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition are partners in the Commercialisation of Biofortified Crops (CBC) Programme, which is catalyzing commercial markets for biofortified seeds, grains, and food products in six countries with pervasive levels of malnutrition: Bangladesh, Kenya, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Tanzania. 

By developing commercial markets for biofortified crops that are primarily grown by smallholder farming families, the CBC Programme will help create a sustainable basis for improving diet quality and tackling hidden hunger among both farmers and consumers.

By 2022, the Programme aims to reach 190.6 million people with biofortified foods and food products, and 571.8 million people by 2028. The Programme is funded by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Government of the Netherlands. 

A value chain approach 

The CBC Programme works with country partners on a value chain approach to creating sustainable
commercial pathways for biofortification. Existing value chains for comparable non-biofortified staple crops and foods are leveraged, and any gaps or barriers to producing or trading biofortified versions are identified and addressed.

View the CBC Programme handout

The full value chain for biofortification. The CBC Programme is active in steps 3 through 8. 

News About the CBC Programme

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and HarvestPlus have launched the Commercialisation of Biofortified Crops (CBC) Programme in Nigeria to significantly increase access to biofortified seeds, grains, and foods via commercial channels in Africa’s most populous country. The programme will facilitate a commercial delivery system for biofortified crops such as vitamin A cassava and vitamin A maize.