Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a staple food in many regions in the world. Bean seeds are a major source of dietary fibers, essential amino acid-rich proteins, some vitamins and often display a high content in essential minerals such as iron, zinc and calcium.
However, these minerals are scarcely bioavailable, mainly due to the presence of phytic acid (PA) and phenolic compounds. Besides, about 60% of common beans produced worldwide are grown in regions subjected to water stress, thus after diseases, drought is the second most important factor that contributes to yield reduction.
BIO-BELIEF aims to select new biofortified and drought resilient bean lines, in order to promote a healthy diet in a general frame of food security. The project will release breeding lines with high nutritional values and develop nutritional improved and drought resilient beans suitable to be grown in Europe, Africa and Latin America (last two are regions where bean is a major staple food). The selected lines will be used for testing by the consumers to validate new biofortified diets for European, African and South American populations.
*At the time of the proposal. Please consider this data as an accurate estimate; it may vary during the project’s lifespan.
Total costs include in kind contribution by grant holders and can therefore be higher than the total requested funding.