Fortified Parboiled Unpolished Rice (FPUR) Project in West Africa
Context
Rice is a growing staple across West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, Ghana, and Benin. Driven by urbanization, population growth, and evolving food preferences, rice now accounts for approximately 34% of grain-based calories in the region, with annual consumption rising by 5–6%, outpacing other staples.
However, local production only meets about 60% of demand (~9.5 million tons), making the region heavily reliant on imported polished rice, which undergoes extensive milling processes that strip away essential nutrients thereby contributing to the growing burden of malnutrition.
In Nigeria, for example, 37% of children under five are stunted and 32% are underweight. Micronutrient deficiencies particularly iron, zinc, and vitamin A remain widespread. Meanwhile, rising consumption of refined grains is linked to increased obesity and type 2 diabetes, with polished rice contributing to these trends.
Parboiled unpolished rice (PUR) presents significant nutritional advantages that could address the growing burden of malnutrition. It contains relevant levels of folic acid (~50 µg/100g), dietary fiber (~5 g/100g), and higher levels of iron (0.6–2.3 mg/100g) and zinc. PUR also has a lower glycemic index and retains beneficial micronutrients like vitamin B6, calcium, and selenium. Rice fortification is a proven, cost-effective strategy for enhancing micronutrient intake.
The Program
The Fortified Whole Grain Alliance (FWGA), in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and TechnoServe, is leading a pilot program in Ghana, Benin, and Nigeria. The goal is to optimize and scale production of Fortified Parboiled Unpolished Rice (FPUR) as a more nutritious, culturally acceptable rice product that improves dietary quality and strengthens regional rice supply chains.
Program Partners
- Fortified Whole Grain Alliance (FWGA)
- World Food Programme (WFP) – Benin and Ghana
- TechnoServe – Nigeria
- Africa Rice Centre (ARC)
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
R & D Work
The ongoing research and development work is to enhance rice quality, fortification feasibility, and
processing efficiency across diverse West African rice systems.
Led by Africa Rice Centre (AfricaRice):
- Â Analytical characterization of local rice varieties to support millers in selecting regionally optimal varieties.
- Lab-scale optimization of parboiling processes to define ideal soaking and eating conditions per variety.
- Final product testing and characterization (both PUR and Fortified PUR).
- Supply of paddy rice samples to KNUST for calibration of the Paddycheck instrument intended to provide rapid, in-field rice quality analysis.
Led by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST):
- Â Final prototype characterization of the most
promising regional varieties. - Calibration and validation of the Paddycheck
instrument using AfricaRice germplasm
samples and FRK-specific indicators. - Sensory evaluation studies to assess consumer
preferences and inform product
improvement. - Capacity-building for rice millers and
graduate students through structured training programs focused on fortification and parboiling best practices.
Anticipated Impact
- While the project is still underway, early activities point toward several promising areas of impact: Stronger local rice value chains: By improving processing methods, product quality, and fortification feasibility, the project is expected to strengthen the local rice systems.
- Improved access to more nutritious rice: The introduction of PUR and fortified PUR has the potential to diversify the diets of institutional and consumer markets with healthier, culturally appropriate alternatives to polished rice.
- Increased technical capacity: Ongoing training and collaboration with research institutions are building knowledge and skills among millers and students in rice fortification, processing and
quality control. - Innovation in rice quality monitoring: The integration of tools like PaddyCheck for varietal screening and quality control, along with localized sensory testing and processing optimization, offers a model for scalable rice innovation in the region.
- Local economic benefits to rice millers due to the added value of FPUR, potential access to new markets with and creation of new jobs in the rice processing and fortification sectors.
