Crop biofortification for global food security: advances in genetic engineering and biotechnological approaches.
Mahmoud LM, Killiny N
Crop Improvement
The rice, wheat, or corn in your pantry could soon be engineered to carry more iron, zinc, or vitamins — meaning everyday meals might close nutritional gaps that affect over 2 billion people worldwide without requiring any change in diet or cooking habits.
Many people around the world eat enough food in terms of calories but still don't get enough vitamins and minerals — a problem called 'hidden hunger.' Scientists are now using advanced plant breeding tools, including precise gene editing, to pack more of these nutrients directly into staple crops like rice, wheat, and cassava. This review rounds up how far that science has come and where it's headed next.
Key Findings
Genetic engineering tools including CRISPR gene editing have enabled targeted increases in key micronutrients such as iron, zinc, vitamin A, and folate in staple crops without significant yield penalties.
Biotechnological approaches, including transgenic and cisgenic strategies, have produced biofortified crop varieties that are already reaching farming communities in low- and middle-income countries.
Combining multiple biofortification traits (stacking genes for several nutrients) is emerging as a priority strategy to address complex nutritional deficiencies in a single crop variety.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists are using genetic engineering and modern biotechnology to make staple crops more nutritious, addressing hidden hunger — the widespread lack of vitamins and minerals that affects billions of people even when calories are sufficient. This review surveys the latest tools being used to breed crops that deliver better nutrition without changing farming practices.
Species Mentioned
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