Just as the story of David taking on Goliath, some MSU researchers are stepping up to fight global hunger and malnutrition. MSU professor Dean DellaPenna is teaming up with HarvestPlus, a global alliance of research institutions and implementing agencies of biofortification, to study plant genomes in hopes of producing crops containing more vitamins and minerals.
In an effort to battle world hunger and malnutrition, HarvestPlus will be spending about $50 million over the next five years to research, breed and disseminate crops. Biofortification - the process of breeding food crops rich in nutrients - is a step in the right direction to combat malnutrition.
The research being done by DellaPenna and associates has the possibility to make a valuable impact on the world.
An estimated 3 billion people around the world are affected by micronutrient deficiency.
The project also reinforces the fact that MSU is a leading research institution. MSU's portion of the work not only will benefit society, but the entire university, as the project speaks well of the school's dedication to research.
MSU will be granted about $2.3 million to complete its portion of the project, which will involve studying bacterial genomes to understand how vitamins are produced in plants such as beans, rice and wheat.
Biofortification has tremendous implications for the way humans might receive sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals in the future. Its implementation can be compared to the addition of fluoride in public drinking water or iodine in salt. But biofortification research is not without controversy.
Many people don't like the idea that their food might be tampered with in the name of science.
Some argue that man should not meddle with nature, and that the best way to get nutrients is from all-natural and organic foods.
Others worry about the long-term effects of bioengineered food. So far, there has not been enough time to study the results of biofortification in the plants, as well as the humans that will consume them.
Some people have taken these arguments to extremes, as seen from the Earth Liberation Front attacks on the offices of an MSU professor researching genetic engineering in 2000. The eco-terrorist group caused $400,000 in damage to Agriculture Hall.
But violent methods are never the way to get a point across.
Continued biofortification could spurn controlled questioning and intelligent debate within the community, as long as feelings don't get out of hand.
It is hard for many Americans to imagine not having enough to eat on a daily basis.
Biofortification research should at least be given a chance, as it has the possibility to better the lives of countless people in underdeveloped countries - as long as the researchers look into the long-term effects of their product.
In the meantime, it is important that we do not forget there are people who cannot wait five years to receive nutrition.
We encourage helping to feed the malnourished by donating time and food to underdeveloped nations, at least until safe nutrient alternatives are made available.
