Crops Biofortification: An Innovative and Sustainable Agronomic Strategy for Alleviating Malnutrition and Hidden Hunger

Dear Colleagues,

Malnutrition and hidden hunger pose significant challenges to global public health, particularly in developing countries, affecting billions of people. The insufficient intake of essential micronutrients leads to a range of health issues. Crop biofortification offers a promising solution to tackle malnutrition by enhancing the nutritional value of staple crops. Biofortification employs a range of practices to increase the concentration and bioavailability of essential micronutrients in crops. These practices involve adjusting soil nutrient levels and enhancing nutrient uptake and accumulation. Genetic modification and breeding techniques are also used to enhance the natural nutritional composition of crops. These methods aim to fortify staple crops with micronutrients such as iron, zinc, vitamin A, and folate. The specific agronomic practices for crop biofortification may vary depending on the crop species, agroecological conditions, and target nutrient(s) to be biofortified. The consumption of biofortified crops has shown promising impacts on human health. The increased intake of bioavailable micronutrients from these crops helps prevent and reduce micronutrient deficiencies, thereby enhancing immune function, cognitive development in children, and reducing the risk of chronic diseases associated with malnutrition. By integrating nutrition-sensitive agricultural practices, biofortification programs can not only address malnutrition but also contribute to sustainable agriculture and food systems.

In this Special Issue, entitled “Crops Biofortification: An Innovative and Sustainable Agronomic Strategy for Alleviating Malnutrition and Hidden Hunger”, we invite researchers and experts to contribute original research, critical reviews, and opinions exploring the concept of crop biofortification as a sustainable and cost-effective means of addressing malnutrition and hidden hunger.

We encourage contributions focusing on various biofortification techniques to increase the concentration and bioavailability of essential micronutrients in crops, including soil nutrient management, micronutrient fertilization, integrated nutrient management, foliar sprays, crop rotation and intercropping, water management, pH management, organic matter management, and pest and disease management:

1. Micronutrient Fertilization: Apply micronutrient-specific fertilizers, nanofertilizers, or micronutrient-rich organic amendments to increase the concentration of specific nutrients in crops, particularly zinc, iron, iodine, selenium, and other essential micronutrients.
2. Foliar Micronutrient Sprays: Apply micronutrient solutions directly to crop foliage through foliar sprays to ensure efficient nutrient absorption and utilization, especially for crops with low nutrient uptake efficiency from the soil.
3. Integrated Nutrient Management: Combine chemical fertilizers with organic inputs like compost, manure, or biofertilizers to improve soil fertility and nutrient availability, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing overall nutrient content in crops.
4. pH Management: Adjust soil pH to optimize nutrient availability. Certain nutrients are more readily available to plants within specific pH ranges. Conducting soil tests and applying appropriate soil amendments like lime or sulfur can achieve the desired pH for optimal nutrient uptake.
5. Crop Rotation and Intercropping: Implement systems of crop rotation and intercropping to diversify nutrient availability in the soil.
6. Organic Matter Management: Improve soil organic matter content through practices like cover cropping, green manuring, and crop residue management. Organic matter enhances soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and nutrient availability for crops.
7. Water Management: Optimize irrigation practices to minimize nutrient leaching and maximize nutrient uptake by crops.
8. Pest and Disease Management: Implement integrated pest and disease management strategies to minimize crop losses. Healthy crops are more efficient in nutrient uptake and utilization, contributing to improved biofortification outcomes.

Dr. Leo Sabatino
Dr. Georgia Ntatsi
Dr. Gholamreza Gohari
Guest Editors

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• crop biofortification
• agronomic practices
• nutrient management
• sustainable agriculture
• malnutrition
• hidden hunger
• micronutrients
• bioavailability
• nutrition-sensitive agriculture
• breeding approaches