A critical review on integrating bio fortification in crops for sustainable agricultural development and nutritional security

Numerous developing nations face epidemics that are characterized by nutritional deficiencies in both humans and animals. A further threat to nutritional quality is posed by the lack of dietary diversity, which consists predominantly of cereal-based crops lacking in essential mineral nutrients. Cereals and pulses are major food crops in backward countries; however, they often lack essential compounds, macronutrients, and micronutrients, resulting in imbalanced nutrition. Widespread malnutrition, characterized by ailments such as anemia, rickets, and scurvy, is a direct consequence of this nutritional imbalance. It is crucial to bio-fortify cereals and pulses to provide the population with balanced diets and reduce malnutrition. New breeding techniques (NBTs) such as gene editing, gene overexpression, and gene transfer from wild relatives offer alternative avenues to obtain crops with optimal nutritional profiles. This review delves into the significance of bio fortification in enhancing food crops and explores the utilization of advanced breeding methods for the development of novel bio fortified crop varieties, thereby tackling nutritional security within the realm of agriculture. It conveys a message to researchers regarding the considerable potential of bio fortification to enhance crop productivity while enriching crops with additional nutrients.