Different approaches for Biofortification: A review

Abstract

Modern agriculture has been largely successful in meeting the energy needs of poor populations in developing countries. In the past 40 years, agricultural research has placed increased cereal production at its center. Recently, however, there has been a shift: agriculture must now not only produce more calories to reduce hunger, but also more nutrient-rich food to reduce hidden hunger. One in three people in the world suffer from hidden hunger, caused by a lack of minerals and vitamins in their diets, which leads to negative health consequences. Biofortification is a process of improvement of nutritional profile of plant-based foods through agronomic interventions, genetic engineering, and conventional plant breeding. Biofortification through agronomic approaches can be achieved by applying mineral fertilizers to the soil, foliar fertilization and soil inoculation with beneficial microorganisms. Biofortification through genetic engineering is an alternative approach when variation in the desired traits is not available naturally in the available germplasm, a specific micronutrient does not naturally exist in crops, and/or modifications cannot be achieved by conventional breeding.