Biofortification of UK food crops with selenium

Summary

This paper, authored by a prominent multidisciplinary team from Rothamsted Research, the James Hutton Institute, and collaborating institutions, addresses the recognised decline in dietary selenium intakes in the UK following a shift away from selenium-rich North American wheat imports. The study investigates agronomic biofortification — applying selenium-containing fertilisers to food crops — as a practical strategy to raise selenium concentrations in UK-grown grain and thereby improve population-level selenium status. The work likely draws on field trial data to assess the feasibility, efficacy, and potential public health implications of this approach within UK agricultural conditions.

UK applicability

This study is directly applicable to UK conditions, responding to well-documented evidence that selenium intakes among the UK population have fallen below recommended levels since the 1980s. The findings are relevant to UK agricultural policy, fertiliser practice, and food security discussions around micronutrient sufficiency in domestically grown cereals.

Key measures

Grain selenium concentration (mg/kg or µg/kg); selenium fertiliser application rates; estimated dietary selenium intake (µg/day)

Outcomes reported

The study likely examined the effectiveness of agronomic biofortification approaches — principally selenium fertilisation — in raising selenium concentrations in UK food crops such as wheat. It probably reported selenium uptake into grain and assessed the potential contribution to human dietary selenium intakes in the UK population.

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