Biofortification Strategies for Enhancing Nutrient Content in Staple Crops: Progress, Challenges, and Future Directions

Biofortification represents a key strategy to enhance the nutritional quality of staple crops and combat micronutrient deficiencies prevalent in vulnerable populations. This review explores the advancements in biofortifying staple crops with essential nutrients, highlighting the significant progress achieved through genetic engineering, traditional breeding, and agronomic practices. Despite these advancements, several challenges persist, including limitations in genetic diversity, the impact of environmental factors, and varying levels of consumer acceptance. Addressing these issues requires a multidisciplinary approach that integrates genetic, agronomic, and socioeconomic strategies. Future research should focus on optimizing biofortification techniques, expanding successful interventions, and scaling up efforts to achieve global food security and improved nutrition outcomes.