Addressing Hidden Hunger via Improving Soil Health and Crop Nutrients Through Nanofortification

Abstract

Micronutrient deficiency represents a significant challenge in developing regions, particularly in Asia and Africa, where agricultural systems often yield foods lacking essential vitamins and minerals. These nutrient-poor diets are commonly consumed by low to middle-income families, exacerbating disease burden at global level. The nutritional health crisis stems from ineffective food systems failing to provide sufficient nutrients, especially to vulnerable populations. Many strategies such as food fortification, dietary diversification, nutritional education supplementation have been implemented for addressing this issue. Additionally, advancements such as nano-chelating technology offer promising solutions by reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers and enabling the crop biofortification along with crucial micronutrients. Biofortification involves crop breeding to enhance their nutritional content, has emerged as a key approach in recent years. By enhancing the vitamin and mineral profiles of crops, these interventions aim to improve overall soil and human health.