Tackling vitamin A deficiency with biofortified sweetpotato in sub-Saharan Africa

Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) is a rich plant-based source of beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A. In sub-Saharan Africa, sweetpotato is known as a food security crop but most varieties grown are high dry matter white-fleshed types, lacking beta-carotene. In 1995, researchers recognized the potential of OFSP varieties to address widespread vitamin A deficiency in SSA using an integrated agriculture-nutrition approach. With their partners, they confronted conventional wisdom concerning food-based approaches and institutional barriers, to build the evidence base and breed 42 OFSP varieties adapted to farmer needs and consumer preferences. Subsequently, a multi-partner, multi-donor initiative, launched in 2009, has already reached 2.8 million households. This review summarizes that effort describing how the changing policy environment influenced the process. •100g of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) can meet the daily vitamin A needs of a young child.•Dominant sweetpotato varieties in Africa lack pro-vitamin A; growing OFSP is an easy adjustment.•Breeding in Africa was requisite to obtain OFSP varieties competitive with local varieties.•Integrating nutrition education is essential for impact on young child vitamin A status.•The policy environment drastically changed in 2007, facilitating enhanced investment in OFSP.