2016-2027

MORE NUTRITIOUS TORTILLAS TO FIGHT MALNUTRITION

2016-2027

Semilla Nueva

Semilla Nueva works alongside farmers, scientists and the government to develop and expand the consumption of biofortified crops. Since 2016, we’ve been funding its work to test, advance and scale the consumption of biofortified corn as an effective way to tackle chronic malnutrition in Guatemala and beyond. Semilla Nueva’s biofortified seeds now account for over 3% of all the maize consumed in Guatemala. The organisation now aims to change 1.5 million people’s diets by 2027, through partnerships, public policies and commercial sales.

www.semillanueva.org

CHALLENGE

Extensive work has gone into encouraging rural Guatemalan families to replace their staple corn tortillas with more nutritious food. However, corn remains the cheapest to buy, the easiest to grow and the foundation of their culture. Sadly, half of all children aged under five suffer from chronic malnutrition.

ACTION

Semilla Nueva helps farmers access new varieties of biofortified maize seeds that are conventionally bred for increased nutritional value, high yields and drought resistance. It also works to institutionalise subsidy programmes to encourage local seed companies to produce and sell biofortified seeds at prices farmers can afford.

Semilla Nueva plans to reach 50,000 farmer families with biofortified corn seeds by the end of 2026, resulting in nearly 1.5 million people eating more nutritious corn in Central America.

IMPACT

Semilla Nueva reached 9,936 farmers in just one year, and in 2021 2% of all maize seeds sold in Guatemala came from Semilla Nueva’s biofortified seeds.

24,500