A warming planet is not just an environmental crisis—it’s a nutritional one. Climate change is threatening crop yields and food security through rising temperatures, changing rainfall, and extreme weather. But what’s even more alarming is the nutrient of our food is declining.
Research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health shows that higher carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are depleting iron, zinc, and protein in plants and staple crops. This puts another 175 million people at risk of zinc deficiency and 122 million at risk of protein deficiency.
This is happening in a world where billions already struggle to afford a healthy diet. Food systems rely heavily on just three crops—wheat, rice, and maize—which are also losing nutrients.
HarvestPlus Solutions (HPS) is responding by scaling naturally nutritious, biofortified crops in partnership with farmers across Asia and Africa. This model has already reached over 300 million people and includes partnerships with schools to improve child health and academic performance.
Biofortification: Nutrifying The Food We Eat
There is a transformative solution that works with nature: biofortification. By using traditional, non-GMO breeding and agronomic techniques, biofortification enriches staple crops with more vitamins and minerals—without compromising yield or altering taste. Over 440 biofortified crop varieties have been introduced in more than 40 countries, including— zinc wheat, zinc rice, iron pearl millet, vitamin A maize, and more. These crops are tailored to local conditions and bred to withstand climate stresses like drought and heat.
Biofortification is also highly cost-effective. According to the Copenhagen Consensus, a global think-tank, for every USD 1 spent on biofortification, up to USD 17 in benefits can be generated.
At HPS, we work with seed producers, governments, farmers, and millers to integrate biofortified crops into local markets and public programs. Our efforts have reached over 300 million people globally, including five million farmers across India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
Independent research carried out by crop, food and social scientists have shown that in Bangladesh, children eating zinc rice attained a greater height for age than their peers. In India, biofortified wheat reduced illness in preschoolers—children consuming it spent 17% fewer days with pneumonia and 40% fewer days vomiting than those eating conventional wheat. And among adolescents, consuming iron pearl millet led to measurable improvements in cognitive ability and iron status—within just four to six months.
But even the most nutritious crops don’t end malnutrition on their own. That’s why we are taking the next step.
Introducing Nutri-Pathshala: Nourishing Children, Empowering Communities
Biofortified crops are powerful—but they’re even more impactful when embedded in local systems. That’s why we created Nutri-Pathshala, a school feeding and nutrition education model that connects farms to classrooms and empowers communities.
Rooted in biofortified crops, Nutri-Pathshala provides nutritious meals to underserved children while also fostering behavior change and community empowerment. It aligns with government programs such as India’s PM-POSHAN (formerly the Mid-Day Meal Scheme), helping improve the nutrition of school meals.
Each Nutri-Pathshala includes:
- Nutri-Farm: Where biofortified crops are cultivated by local farmers trained in Good Agricultural Practices.
- Nutri-Kitchens: Safe, efficient kitchens that prepare daily meals using these crops.
- Nutri-Diaries: Interactive health journals for students to track meals, hygiene, and activity.
- Arogya Clubs: Dedicated spaces for children to learn about health, nutrition and physical activity.
- Nutri-Buddies: Students from local colleges who support schools in monitoring and mentorship.
This model is holistic, locally rooted, and gender-inclusive. Many Nutri-Farms and Nutri-Kitchens are led by women, boosting both livelihoods and community nutrition. The approach strengthens smallholder markets, supports rural economies, and advances key SDGs—on hunger, education, health, gender equality, and economic growth.
So far, Nutri-Pathshala has delivered over three million meals to 150,000 children in India, sourcing from over 25,000 farmers. It is a meaningful start, but only the beginning.
The aim is to scale the model sustainably by partnering with governments, leveraging CSR support, and embedding it in national food and education systems. With the right support, Nutri-Pathshala can expand to reach millions more children—building a generation that is healthier, better educated, and more resilient to climate and health shocks.
The Urgency—and the Opportunity
Asia remains home to the largest number of stunted, wasted, and anemic children. Yet global nutrition aid is shrinking—funding cuts of up to 50% by major donors have recently been implemented just as the challenge deepens.
We must act now. Biofortification, combined with school feeding and nutrition education, is a proven, low-cost, high-impact solution. It is anchored in local food systems, driven by community leadership, and supported by science.
At HarvestPlus Solutions, we invite support from governments, donors, and social investors to help scale the Nutri-Pathshala model—because nourishing a child today is the most sustainable way to protect our future.
