Summary
This multidisciplinary field study, led by Rothamsted Research in collaboration with UK research institutions, investigated agronomic selenium biofortification via selenate-enriched fertilisers as a practical intervention to restore selenium concentrations in UK-grown food crops. The work addresses documented declines in UK dietary selenium intake following the mid-to-late twentieth century shift away from imported North American wheat. The paper reports on the effectiveness, feasibility, and potential population-level health impact of this approach under British agricultural and climatic conditions.
Regional applicability
These findings are directly applicable to UK farming and food policy, as they provide evidence for a practical, farm-level intervention to address a documented public health gap in selenium intake. The work suggests that agronomic biofortification could be integrated into existing cereal and vegetable production systems without major disruption to current practices.
Key measures
Selenium concentration in crop tissues; crop yield and agronomic performance; selenium bioavailability; dietary intake projections
Outcomes reported
The study evaluated the effectiveness of selenium-enriched fertilisers in raising selenium concentrations in UK-grown cereals and vegetables under field conditions. It assessed the feasibility and potential public health impact of agronomic biofortification as a mechanism to restore dietary selenium intake in the United Kingdom.
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