Zinc Biofortification of Cereal Crops: A Review Article

Abstract

Micronutrient deficiency can be considered as one of the yield "quantity and quality" limiting factor in arid calcareous lands and can be considered as the troubling component of hunger. Therefore, enriching food products through adding nutrients to a food product or through increasing soil fertility and breeding crop for nutrient efficiency are alternatives available to improve food quality. However, poor people have no excess to food additives and can benefit from naturally enriched food products or what being called Biofortification. The existence of a general geographical overlap between soil Zn deficiency and human Zn deficiency has been already postulated. As agriculture-based food products are the major source of human nutrition, the relationship between the nutrient status of soils, food crops, and human health is understandable. poor but also deliver all the essential nutrients needed for adequate nutritional health. Sustainable solutions to malnutrition will only be found by closely linking agriculture to nutrition and health. The undergoing review would discuss these concepts and their implementation and uses with special concern on Iraqi conditions.