Can Mars' bid to publish genetic maps of historic African crops boost nutrition?

Confectionery company says initiative will help breed more drought-tolerant seeds, but critics fear that small-scale farmers will lose out

A multi-million dollar research group co-founded by the confectionery company Mars is set to publish the genetic maps to five traditional African crops as part of an ambitious project that it says could help end malnutrition on the continent.

The project is applying modern biotechnology to African "orphan crops" - including finger millet and the "superfood" moringa - with the goal of breeding new versions that are more productive or more tolerant to drought or disease.