Biofortification methods for enriching food crops with micronutrients: a general review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/KOSMOS.2026.002Keywords
biofortification, hidden hunger, conventional breeding, agronomic practices, genetic engineering, beneficial microbesAbstract
Biofortification is a form of biotechnology that addresses the issue of hidden hunger, which is a particular concern
in developing countries. The main goal of this process is to enrich the edible plants that are typical of a given re-
gion by increasing the bioavailable concentrations of essential nutrients that could cause health problems due to
their deficiency. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the main strategies used in plant biofortifica-
tion to enhance the concentration and bioavailability of trace elements in crop plants. Particular attention is given
to conventional breeding, agronomic approaches, genetic engineering, and the use of beneficial microorganisms,
with discussion of their mechanisms, advantages, and limitations. The novelty of this work lies in the integrated
comparison of these approaches and the identification of key challenges and future research directions for the ef-
fective implementation of biofortification as a strategy to combat global micronutrient deficiencies.
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