Biofortification to improve food security

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Genetics
• Nutrition

Background:

• Crop biofortification has advanced significantly, starting with quality protein maize.
• Biofortified crops like maize, wheat, rice, legumes, and cassava now provide essential nutrients (Fe, Zn, provitamin A) to millions.
• Conventional breeding takes 8-10 years, prompting the integration of advanced techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the progress and future directions of crop biofortification.
• To explore the role of advanced breeding and genetic engineering in accelerating biofortification.
• To discuss policy and seed system needs for sustainable biofortified crop adoption.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on crop biofortification.
• Analysis of conventional breeding timelines and the impact of molecular tools.
• Discussion of genetic engineering, genome editing (CRISPR-Cas), and their regulatory implications.

Main Results:

• Biofortification has successfully enhanced key nutrients in major crops.
• Molecular markers, GWAS, and genomic selection speed up breeding.
• Genetic engineering offers multi-nutrient and climate-resilient traits, with CRISPR-Cas potentially easing regulatory hurdles.

Conclusions:

• Effective policies and accessible quality seeds are crucial for sustainable production and adoption.
• Combining genetic engineering with conventional breeding is key for future multi-nutrient crop improvement.
• Expanding crop and nutrient targets for biofortification holds significant potential.