Biofortification: Ensuring Nutrient-Rich Food Production

Abstract

Biofortification usually refers to the enhancement of the nutrient content of crops through advanced breeding techniques. The main aim behind the development of biofortified crops is to retard malnutrition grasping our population. Biofortification is focused on the rural poor population who primarily rely on the local foods as their essential source of nourishment. Several biofortified staple crops such as provitamin A-biofortified sweet potato (‘orange sweet potato’), iron-biofortified beans (‘iron beans’), and zinc-biofortified rice (‘zinc rice’) have been introduced into developing countries to reduce micronutrient deficiencies.