Nourishing India: Biofortification for a Sustainable Agricultural Future

Abstract

India is a developing country, green revolution increased the agricultural yield but not sufficient for the increasing demand of the growing population. Govt. is doing its best to deal with hunger, but the nutrient value is not sufficient to live a healthy life. Hunger is often associated with an empty stomach, but hidden hunger reveals a less visible yet critical issue. Hidden hunger is micronutrient deficiency, where individuals consume sufficient calories and may still lack essential vitamins and minerals. It is crucial to shift focus towards enhancing the nutrient value of food, beyond just meeting caloric needs, to promote better public health. However, nutrient-rich foods often come with a higher price tag, making them inaccessible to many. Biofortification offers a promising solution – a farming approach that boosts the natural nutrient content of crops, making nutritious food more accessible without requiring significant changes to people\'s diets. Biofortification is a sustainable and targeted approach to improve the nutritional value of staple foods by increasing essential micronutrients such as iron, zinc, vitamin A, and others through selective breeding, improved agricultural practices and biotechnology.

Introduction

Malnutrition is a global crisis affecting over 3 billion people, taking forms like undernutrition, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies (often called hidden hunger). India is significantly affected, with:

• 27.5 Global Hunger Index (GHI) score (2022),

• 15.3% population undernourished,

• 59.1% of girls (15–19 years) anemic,

• Infant mortality rate: 35.2 per 1,000 births.

Micronutrient-rich diets enhance immunity and resilience, especially during crises. Yet, nutrient loss in soils and limited access to healthy food worsen the problem.

II. Solution: Biofortification

Biofortification enhances the nutrient content of crops at the agricultural level, making staple foods like wheat, rice, and maize naturally richer in vitamins and minerals.

Key Benefits:

• Cost-effective and sustainable.

• Reaches over 40 million smallholder families worldwide.

• Supports Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): zero hunger and good health.

• Especially beneficial for rural and low-income communities.

III. India's Biofortification Efforts

India is scaling up:

• 10+ million hectares under biofortified crop cultivation (wheat, rice, mustard, pearl millet).

• 37,425 quintals of biofortified seeds distributed (Dec 2023, Ministry of Agriculture).

IV. Hidden Hunger and Its Impacts

Over 2 billion people globally suffer from hidden hunger, with women and children most affected. Deficiencies in iron, vitamin A, zinc, and selenium can lead to:

• Anemia, blindness, stunted growth, weak immunity.

• Lower productivity, higher healthcare costs, reduced learning.

Solution: Biofortification offers a permanent fix via improved staple foods, rather than relying solely on diverse diets or expensive supplements.

V. Biofortification Methods

1. Traditional Plant Breeding

   • Crossbreeding nutrient-rich and high-yield crops.

   • E.g., Vitamin A-rich maize, iron-rich beans.

2. Agronomic Biofortification (Fertigation)

   • Using nutrient-enriched fertilizers (e.g., zinc-enriched fertilizers in wheat).

   • Effective for nutrient-deficient soils.

3. Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

   • GM methods like CRISPR for precision nutrient enhancement.

   • E.g., Golden Rice with provitamin A.

VI. Enhancing Nutrient Bioavailability

It’s not just about adding nutrients, but also ensuring they’re absorbed. Anti-nutrients in plants can be reduced or neutralized using breeding or biotech to enhance absorption.

VII. Health and Economic Impact

• Vitamin A-rich sweet potatoes improve children's health.

• Iron-rich millet boosts adolescent cognition.

• Biofortified fruits (e.g., iodine-rich pome fruits) can combat widespread iodine deficiency.

Farmer benefits: Easy adoption, potential for higher income once awareness and demand rise.

National impact: Better health = reduced healthcare burden + improved workforce productivity.

VIII. Challenges in Adoption

1. Low Awareness

   • Farmers and consumers lack information about biofortified foods.

2. Regulatory Barriers (GMOs)

   • Strict approval processes and public skepticism slow progress.

3. Weak Seed Supply Chains

   • Limited access to biofortified seeds, especially in rural areas.

4. Taste and Appearance Resistance

   • Consumers may resist foods that differ in taste or appearance from traditional varieties.

Conclusion

To get the benefits of fortified crops fully, people must be aware of these crops. Awareness will increase the public interest and its consumption. Our plant breeders and policymakers should consider the fortified traits in the plant breeding programs. (Bouis and Saltzman, 2017). Biofortification offers a powerful, field-level response to hidden hunger. By improving the nutritional value of staple crops, people who are most in need can benefit for a long time without having to make significant dietary changes or incur additional costs. As food systems face growing pressure from climate change and economic inequality, biofortification presents a solution that is both resilient and inclusive. By introducing vital nutrients into the agricultural system, biofortification provides an economical, environmentally responsible, and sustainable way to improve nutrition. Capital investments in farmer access, supportive legislation, and public awareness are essential to achieve its full potential. Additionally, including biofortification in regional development plans guarantees both practical usefulness and cultural value. With focused assistance, biofortification can help communities flourish and pave the way for a time when hidden malnutrition is rare.

References

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Copyright © 2025 Seema Gupta. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.