BIOFORTIFICATION: A SUSTAINABLE STRATEGY FOR IMPROVING NUTRITION IN HUMANS

Malnutrition is the worst form of non-communicable disease. Nutrition should become a priority issue at national and sub-national levels. Leadership and efficient governance is required at all levels to ensure synergy through convergence between Programmes/ Acts which impact nutrition directly or run by different departments/ ministries like health, women and child development, agriculture, civil supplies, education etc. The prevalence of accessibility to super-markets and processed food products is growing in developing countries, but many rural poor communities, especially farming communities, often lack access to purchase processed foods. Therefore, fortification of manufactured foods would have limited impact on improving nutrition for these populations. Scientific evidence shows biofortification is technically possible without affecting agricultural productivity. The analysis of cost benefits also supports biofortification as being important for controlling micronutrient deficiencies. The main issue is to convince farmers and consumers to accept biofortified commodities and enhance the intake of modified nutrients. With the application of good seed process systems, biofortication can be achieved by the expansion of demand, products and markets. This review mainy focuss on nutritional deficiency, relation between health and biofortification, farmers acceptance for biofortification coupled with future trends and challenges.