Biofortification is the process of breeding food crops that are rich in bioavailable nutrients.  It is neither an agricultural research project nor a public health research program.  It is both.  Through plant breeding, crops fortify themselves and load nutrients into their seeds and roots, which are then harvested and eaten. Through biofortification, scientists can provide farmers with crop varieties that naturally reduce anemia, cognitive impairment, and other nutritionally related health problems, and potentially reach hundreds of millions of people.  But biofortification itself will not ensure nutritional sufficiency.  Plant and nutrition scientists must work within a pathway to impact that addresses not only what is technologically possible but also integrates the needs of the undernourished with farmer preference. 

HarvestPlus is working to breed, test, and disseminate agronomically superior varieties of biofortified staple crops that are dense in bioavailable nutrients and preferred by farmer and consumer alike.  Six staple crops and three nutrients form the core of the program.  Ninety five researchers in over 40 countries conduct research and implementation work.  For biofortification to be successful, researchers and implementation partners work along this pathway to impact that is the guiding framework marrying the powers of modern plant breeding, with rigorous nutritional testing, and marketing and behavior research to reduce undernutrition of millions of people whose diet is made up of primarily staple foods.