Following tasks will be studied under the 4th Phase of the project:
TASK 1: Studying novel soil and foliar fertilizer products
Phase 4 will continue to investigate new fertilizer products and plant protection compounds for their agronomic effectiveness on both grain yield performance and grain micronutrient concentrations. In addition to the products provided, cocktail treatments of Zn, iodine, iron, and selenium will be also included in the spray program. The target crops are wheat, rice and maize. The related field trials will be established in India (rice and wheat), Pakistan (wheat), China (rice and wheat), Thailand (rice), Turkey (wheat), Brazil (rice), and Zimbabwe (maize) at two locations per country over two 2 years. In the trials, compatibility of micronutrient cocktail solution with commonly used insecticides and fungicides will be also studied.
TASK 2: Exploit the synergism between breeding and agronomy
This Task focuses on exploiting synergies from combining genetic and agronomic approaches to boost and stabilize grain concentrations of micronutrients to desired levels. After successful long-term breeding efforts, HarvestPlus program started to release several biofortified crops including vitamin-A maize, iron-bean and iron-pearl millet. These newly biofortified crops will be experimental materials of the Task 2, and studied for their reaction to foliarly-sprayed cocktail of micronutrients in India (pearl millet), Rwanda (bean), Uganda (bean), Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Zambia (maize) under farmer field conditions.
TASK 3: Farmer field trials and use of cocktail micronutrient fertilizers
This Task investigates agronomic effectiveness of a micronutrient fertilizer cocktail containing zinc + iodine + selenium on grain concentration of micronutrients in wheat grown in farmer fields in India, Pakistan and Turkey. Up to 10 farmer fields varying in soil types will be selected and treated with a cocktail solution of micronutrients to determine its effect on grain concentrations of these micronutrients. Additionally, i) paired leaf-soil and ii) paired grain-soil samples will be collected in those farmer fields to study the relationships between soil chemical properties (including micronutrient concentrations, pH, organic matter, etc.) and the concentrations of the targeted micronutrients in leaves and grains.
TASK 4: Consumer acceptance and test marketing study
Phase 4 of the project will study consumer acceptability of biofortified wheat with zinc, iodine, and selenium by conducting a concept test followed by a product test.
In these tests, face-to-face interviews are conducted using a structured questionnaire at the respondent’s home in both, urban and rural regions in Punjab, where wheat consumption is very high. A total of 600 respondents per region divided into 4 panels - zinc, iodine, selenium and cocktail panel - will be interviewed and exposed to biofortified wheat products. The Concept Test will research three main issues:
- To evaluate idea of “Biofortified Wheat” in order to judge the response to the idea
- To measure liking, relevance, intent to purchase “Biofortified Wheat”
- To understand what is driving the concept appeal with “Biofortified Wheat” and identify detractors (if any)
TASK 5: "Micronutrient Days" with Farmers
Organization of the "Micronutrient Days” events (also called Zinc Day event) represents an important element of the HarvestZinc project. This activity will continue to introduce and deliver project results and related knowledge to farmers and governmental organizations. “Micronutrient Days” events will be organized in the target countries jointly with the project collaborators. These events include presentations on the importance of micronutrients in crop production and human and animal nutrition.