Past project | 2020 to 2023

ZIRON Pulse

ZIRON Pulse: Upscaling adoption and exploitation of a wide diversity of Iron and Zinc-rich beans by rural populations in Africa

Project objectivesOverview
ZIRON Pulse
ZIRON Pulse
Traditional grain stores built of wood and straw
Traditional grain stores built of wood and straw
Period
February 2020 to February 2023
project period
2020–23
resources
3
Status
Past project

ZIRON Pulse

OverviewObjectivesOur roleResourcesVideosRelated

About the project

Overview

Ziron Pulse is designed to extend and elaborate the capacity of the regional breeding program led by the University of Nairobi, addressing critical knowledge gaps to develop and disseminate micronutrient-dense bean varieties with proven nutritional/health benefits and also support the National Agricultural Research System (NARS). Consequently, this could facilitate the development of the UoN curriculum via, for example, courses on Biofortified Food Crops and their role in Africa.

Twelve new biofortified bean varieties have formally been released in Kenya after independent validation by the regulatory authority (Kimani et al. 2016). These beans have marketable grain types that are comparable to popular commercial varieties and they have 80% more iron, 60% more zinc, a high yield potential (>50%), as well as tolerance to major bean diseases found in eastern Africa. However, the reproducible robustness and productivity across environments of these varieties have not been tested. Moreover, the large-scale multiplication and production of certified seed, promotion and dissemination of these varieties is critical to meaningful impacts on food and nutritional security in the region.

In addition, it will also include nutrition sensitive marketing approaches to create demand for the variety within the value chains.

ZIRON Pulse

What it set out to do

Project Objectives

The objectives of the project are to: Specific objectives:

Identify and map candidate genes associated with enhanced iron and zinc concentrations (and low phytate content) in genetically diverse bean germplasm from the Kenyan bean breeding germplasm collection
Build on the gene characterization and develop molecular markers for iron and zinc biofortified bean development to accelerate new variety production: varieties that are culturally appropriate for the area and cooking preferences.
Develop a comprehensive package of information (“Toolkit”) using the social behaviour change communication for Nutrition approach incorporating “Theatre for nutrition behaviour change”, campaigns, nutrition education group sessions and farmer open days, story animations, fliers, briefs.
Apply the toolkit to enhance the dissemination, commercialisation and utilization of information and knowledge on biofortified (Fe and Zn) rich bean varieties in Kenya across the full supply and value chains, including consumer small holders and policymakers .
Strengthen human and physical capacities and linkages among the actors along the bean value supply and value chains including mentoring and post-graduate training.

Our contribution

FANRPAN’s role

To co-develop a tailored nutritional educational Toolkit to promote adoption of new varieties.This will be disseminated using the social behaviour change communication for Nutrition approach incorporating “Theatre for nutrition behaviour change”, campaigns, nutrition education group sessions and farmer open days, story animations, fliers, briefs etc. The Toolkit will include information on understanding the micronutrient-rich beans to address any fears and culturally held beliefs that the consumer/population hold when new knowledge is presented. In addition, it will also include nutrition sensitive marketing approaches to create demand for the variety within the value chains. To strengthen knowledge exchange, including essential skills training, mentoring and networking activities.Which is to hold an initial stakeholder engagement workshop to consult key stakeholders in the agricultural supply and value chain about the opportunities and barriers to new varieties. Information gathered will inform the dissemination and commercialisation plans. A final stakeholder workshop with field demonstrations will be used to promote the results of the project, engage with stakeholders to discuss opportunities for policy change and commercialisation, and to give all a real feel for the performance of the biofortified beans in field.

Watch

Video

A closer look at the ZIRON Pulse project.

7:56Upclose with the Ziron Pulse Project

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