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A CCORDING TO THE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about 610000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year thats one of every four deaths. Its Americas biggest killer and a major impetus for bringing a new broccoli to the marketplace. In the early 1980s scientists found a wild broccoli variety that had the unique ability to naturally produce higher levels of a compound known as glucoraphanin. This wild variety was cross-pollinated with commercial broccoli and one of the selections became the parent of Benefort broccoli expected to arrive on the U.S. market in 2016. Each one-cup serving of Benefort broccoli con- tains two to three times the glucoraphanin compared to a serving of other leading commercial varieties of broccoli. Glucoraphanin is a phytonutrient that may reduce the risk of heart disease. The development and commercialization of Benefort broccoli is the result of a collaboration between Plant Bioscience Ltd. Seminis Vegetable Seeds and two of the United Kingdoms leading research institutes the Institute of Food Research and the John Innes Centre. We hope that by developing products with excel- lent sensory appeal people will enjoy eating more vegetables and reap the nutritional benefits that come along with increased consumption says Gene Mero a Monsanto broccoli breeder. After an initial trial launch in Sams Club stores across the U.S. the broccoli was successful enough for a widespread release planned for 2017. Its expected to be available in limited release for February of next year. The success of the product is proving how much value biofortification can have in the developed world and the concept has implications for other crops that Americans consume each day. Global Idea Biofortification the idea of breeding crops to increase their nutritional value has been researched for several years to help people in the developing world deal with the lack of vitamins and minerals in their diets. Last year the first vitamin A cassava shop was officially launched in Ibadan Nigeria to increase awareness of this new nutritious cassava variety. Cassava also known as tapioca is a major staple food in Nigeria. Its eaten daily by more than 100 million people but the commonly available white cassava lacks micronutrients such as vitamin A that are essential for a healthy and productive life. In March a study published in The Journal of Nutrition showed maize that has been conventionally bred to have higher zinc content can provide enough zinc for a growing child in the formative years. The study showed young Zambian children who ate the biofortified maize flour had higher zinc levels in their bodies. Globally more than 17 percent of the worlds population is at risk of zinc deficiency. COMING TO AMERICA MARC ZIENKIEWICZ has been a journalist and editor for 10 years. After serving as a managing editor for Canadas largest newspaper chain he transitioned to the ag publishing world. He enjoys writing about new technologies and how they impact seed. He lives in Lac du Bonnet Manitoba next to a field of soybeans on one side and cattle on the other. For more from Marc follow him on Twitter mzienkie. Biofortification of crops is often done for people in the developing world but the concept is now finding its niche in the United States. 18 SEEDWORLD.COM JUNE 2015 Benefort broccoli is the result of a collaboration between Plant Bioscience Ltd. the Monsanto-owned Seminis Vegetable Seeds and two of the United Kingdoms leading research institutes. PHOTO MONSANTO.