In Bangladesh, a humble plantain could make chicken cheaper and healthier to raise

At Bangladesh Agricultural University, Professor Mohammad Al Mamun and his team have spent nearly two decades perfecting a feed made from plantain — the banana's sturdy cousin. In a trial of 450 broiler chickens over 35 days, birds on the plantain-based feed grew stronger bones, glossier feathers and meat with 8% more healthy omega-3 fats, while coping better with heat. If it scales, the homegrown feed could cut farmers' reliance on imported ingredients and medicines — and lower the cost of chicken and eggs for families.

SDG 2 · Zero hunger — Mechanism: tech innovation