Biofortification is a sustainable strategy to enhance the nutrient content of staple crops, addressing the global issue of micronutrient deficiencies, particularly in low-income and rural populations. This approach improves the nutritional quality of crops through traditional breeding and modern biotechnological methods, ensuring that essential vitamins and minerals are present in the edible parts of the plants. Biofortified crops, such as provitamin A-rich orange sweet potato, iron-enriched beans, and zinc-fortified rice, have already demonstrated success in improving public health. Future advancements in genome editing, marker-assisted selection, and the integration of biofortified traits into food processing hold promise for further enhancing nutritional security. The widespread adoption of biofortified crops can help alleviate malnutrition, particularly in vulnerable populations, by integrating nutrition into agricultural practices and improving public health outcomes globally.
Biofortification, Plant breeding, Genetic engineering, Hidden hunger, Vitamins and minerals
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