other food-based approaches, and
nutrition education are all interventions that
have their own strengths and weaknesses. Here
we have shown that GR has the potential to reduce
the disease burden of VAD in India substantially
and at low average costs, even when
accounting for sizeable outlays that might be
necessary for future social marketing. Therefore,
GR promises to be an effective and efficient
pro-poor intervention to control VAD.
Its inclusion into strategies that aim at the elimination
of VAD in rice-eating populations
should be considered seriously. Yet the scenario
differences also highlight the crucial role of
public support. If development and dissemination
of the technology are not supported, the
impacts will be relatively low. However, if GR
is properly supported because policy makers
realize its potential, then the simulated high impact
scenario is a realistic outcome, with significant
positive nutrition and health effects,
especially among the poor.