Hidden hunger, the insufficient uptake of nutrients, is a huge issue that is growing worldwide. Millions of people do not have access to foods containing the proper nutrients necessary for their health or survival, and while people may still have food to eat, that food doesn’t actually contain essential nutrients like Vitamin A, E, etc. One of the many foods in which this is an issue is soy beans. This project’s work with the PSY promoter in soy beans can enable people around the world to grow soy beans that produce significantly more Vitamin A than what they are capable of doing right now. This research could one day allow for everyone to have access to soy beans that give them the nutrients they need to live a healthy and happy life.
Additionally, this project could provide a means for producing genetically enhanced food without dealing with the stigma of it being a GMO. Since this research utilizes the soy bean’s own genome, it would not technically be classified as a GMO, meaning people will be more willing to accept these altered soy beans as a solution for hidden hunger. The long term impacts of engineering plants containing the nutrients people need without the negative stigma of a GMO could mean a future where hidden hunger no longer exists.