“We want many many people to eat orange maize, to feed children,
old people, so they can be happy.”

Catherine Njema, orange maize farmer

In too many parts of the world, monocultural agriculture along with food insecurity has led to an insidious type of malnutrition: hidden hunger. Hidden hunger strikes when you don’t get enough micronutrients (like zinc, iron, or Vitamin A). It causes severe malnutrition, immune deficiencies, night blindness, and stunting. It’s ravages communities and preys particularly on young children. 

Zambia is one of all too many countries struggling with hidden hunger. Here, the target is Vitamin A. Over 50% of the population doesn’t get enough. Government programs have tried to combat it by providing micronutrient supplements, but this is costly and unwieldy. 

Enter Harvest Plus, an NGO that is working to biofortify the primary stable crop in Zambia: corn. By naturally breeding Vitamin A into the corn supply, everyone can get the Vitamin A they need simply by eating their nshima, a polenta-like corn dish that is served breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the country. In Zambia, they call it Orange Maize.