Biofortification of cereals to overcome hidden hunger.

More than 60% of the world population suffers from iron deficiency, and over 30% of the global population has zinc deficiency. Micronutrient deficiency leads to compromised health and economic losses and is prevalent in populations depending on non-diversified plant-based diets. Increasing mineral content of staple food crops through biofortification is the most feasible strategy of combating micronutrient malnutrition. Additionally, it will also enhance the agronomic efficiency of crops on mineral poor soils. A multipronged strategy towards enhancing mineral content of cereal grains should involve increased uptake of minerals from soil, enhanced partitioning towards grain and improved sequestration in the edible tissues of grains. At the same time, it is essential to improve mineral absorption in vivo from cereal-based diets. Both conventional and modern breeding approaches and genetic engineering are being employed for biofortification of crop plants. With increased understanding of mineral uptake and transport mechanisms in plants, it is becoming ever more possible to engineer biofortified crop plants with the ultimate goal of overcoming hidden hunger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]