Biofortified Crops: A Sustainable Approach for Nutritional Security

Abstract

Today the major global health concern especially in the developing countries where the dietary requirements are met from the staple crops deprived of nutrient diversity is the “hidden hunger” which is generally caused by micronutrient deficiencies. Millions of people are severely affected with health problems like anemia, impaired immunity and vision disorders due to the deficiencies of essential micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamin A. Biofortification is the sustainable strategy for enhancing the nutritional quality of food crops through plant breeding, agronomic practices, and modern biotechnological approaches. Biofortification enrich the crops with higher concentrations of essential vitamins and minerals in their edible parts, without any major changes in food consumption patterns. Many biofortified varieties in crops like rice, wheat, pearl millet and sweet potato were developed to combat the micronutrient deficiencies among the rural populations who mainly rely on the staple crops for their dietary requirements.