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Catch the Vision
Mark Morgan, associate professor in the School of Natural Resources, recently received a Global Food System Challenge Seed Grant for the project titled, Catch the Vision. The award total is for $25,000.
Morgan and his team are working to develop a supplementary food product that addresses malnutrition of women and children in Haiti.
“Haiti has over 6 million women,” said Morgan. “Over one-third of Haitians are between 0 and 14 years old and have limited access to nutrient-rich foods. About 22% of children suffer from stunting and 4% from wasting. Almost half (46%) of women suffer from iron deficiency anemia.”
The team plans to use silver carp, an invasive species in the U.S., to address this critical issue in Haiti. Preliminary tests have shown that silver carp are nutritious and safe to eat. Silver carp contains high amounts of protein, calcium, iron, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and all nine essential amino acids. However, raw product spoils easily and shipment can be costly.
“Our innovative solution is to develop a ready-to-eat, food bar consisting mostly of fish powder and soy meal,” said Morgan.
Potential advantages of the finished product include low-cost, high-nutrient, peanut-free, shelf-stable, and without need for refrigeration or freezing. This product can help address common health issues such as anemia in women and stunting/ wasting in children.
“There is no singular solution for malnutrition,” said Morgan. “We plan to lessen this burden for women and children in Haiti by developing a healthy and nutritious food bar using an invasive species in the U.S. If consumed frequently, this product will improve nutrition for countless women and children since silver carp contain high amounts of macro and micronutrients.”
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