Crop biofortification has significantly progressed in the last few decades. The first biofortification success was quality protein maize, leading to double the amount of the essential amino acids lysine and tryptophan. This was followed by biofortification of staple crops such as maize, wheat, rice, legumes and cassava for nutrients such as Fe and Zn and provitamin A. These crops have reached millions of households, especially in the developing regions of the world. The development and release of these biofortified crops through conventional breeding generally took 8–10 years. To speed up the process, molecular markers, genome-wide association studies and genomic selection have been incorporated into breeding efforts. Genetic engineering has the potential to increase the efficiency of crop biofortification through multi-nutrient biofortification in a short timespan and to combine biofortification with climate resilience. Regulatory issues still prevent the dissemination of genetically modified crops in many countries. This could be overcome by CRISPR–Cas-mediated genome editing, as it seems that many countries will regulate products of genome editing less strictly than transgenic crops. Effective policies on national or regional level are needed for the sustainable production of biofortified crops. The availability of affordable quality biofortified seed and other inputs should be ensured through local seed systems, which will increase the production and adoption of biofortified crops. There is scope to expand the crops and the range of nutrients for biofortification. Genetic engineering should be combined with conventional breeding as a approach for future improvement of multi-nutrient crops.
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December 2023
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Inside this issue of Emerging Topics in Life Science, authors explore nanotechnology, biofortification, biodiversity, and more along with their implications for sustainability and the future of food security. Photo by oticki via Adobe Stock.
Review Article|
November 14 2023
Biofortification to improve food security
Maryke Labuschagne
Department of Plant Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Correspondence: Maryke Labuschagne ([email protected])
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
June 22 2023
Revision Received:
October 29 2023
Accepted:
November 02 2023
Online ISSN: 2397-8562
Print ISSN: 2397-8554
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society and the Royal Society of Biology
2023
Emerg Top Life Sci (2023) 7 (2): 219–227.
Article history
Received:
June 22 2023
Revision Received:
October 29 2023
Accepted:
November 02 2023
Citation
Maryke Labuschagne; Biofortification to improve food security. Emerg Top Life Sci 13 December 2023; 7 (2): 219–227. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/ETLS20230066
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