A leading international science center announced today that it has overcome long scientific odds to develop, test, and distribute to developing countries varieties of high-protein corn that could prevent malnutrition among millions of people worldwide, many of them children. The new maize was developed through traditional plant breeding. The problem is that diets high in maize lack two essential amino acids needed to prevent malnutrition.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, which are needed by all cells in the body.
But because most maize is deficient in lysine and tryptophan, maize-dependent diets can lead to malnutrition. According to the United Nations Development Programme, almost one billion people living in developing countries are malnourished and do not consume enough protein for good health. Maize is the world's most widely grown cereal crop and an essential food source for millions of the world's poor. More than half of the world's malnourished children live in countries where maize is an important food. In 20 developing countries, primarily in Latin America and Africa, maize gruel is the main food mothers use to wean their babies, and maize is the single largest source of calories.