Can Biofortified Crops Help Attain Food Security?

Abstract

Malnutrition, or “hidden hunger,” continues to linger throughout the developing world. This is partially the result of a lack of access to a diversified diet. A burgeoning human population and the advent of climate change have resulted in the forecast of increases in food insecurity for at risk populations. The following report describes the use of agricultural biotechnology to generate crops which are biofortified with vitamins and minerals. Crops designed through biotechnology that possess additional health benefits such as preventing the onset of non-communicable diseases including hypertension and cancer are also presented. Examples of several biofortified and nutritionally enhanced crops are provided. The report ends with a discussion of the state of these technologies in the world today and their prospects for improving global food security.