Biofortification: agronomic and genetic strategies

Summary

Published in Plant and Soil (2015), this review by Singh et al. synthesises evidence on biofortification — the process of improving the nutritional quality of food crops — through both agronomic practices (such as soil and foliar fertilisation with micronutrients) and genetic strategies (including conventional breeding and biotechnological approaches). The paper likely discusses the merits, limitations, and complementarity of each approach across major staple crops, with reference to micronutrients of global public health concern such as iron, zinc, and selenium. It represents a significant reference work for researchers and practitioners seeking to address micronutrient deficiency ('hidden hunger') through food systems interventions at the crop production level.

UK applicability

While the review is international in scope and most relevant to low- and middle-income countries where micronutrient deficiency is prevalent, the agronomic strategies discussed — particularly selenium and zinc fertilisation — are directly applicable to UK arable systems, where soil selenium levels are notably low and grain zinc concentration is a recognised concern.

Key measures

Grain/tissue micronutrient concentration (mg/kg); crop yield; bioavailability of target nutrients; comparison of agronomic vs. genetic biofortification efficacy

Outcomes reported

The paper reviews strategies for increasing the concentration of essential micronutrients (such as iron, zinc, and selenium) in edible crop tissues through both agronomic interventions (e.g. fertiliser application, soil management) and genetic approaches (e.g. plant breeding, transgenic methods). It likely evaluates the relative efficacy, feasibility, and trade-offs of each strategy across major staple crops.

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