2024, Vol. 7, Issue 12, Part D

By 2030, the goal is to eliminate hunger and guarantee that all people, especially the poor and vulnerable, including infants, have consistent access to safe, nutritious, and adequate food throughout the year. This objective is part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, "Zero Hunger," one of 17 global goals aimed at eradicating poverty. Key measures of success for SDG 2 include reducing undernourishment and addressing moderate to severe food insecurity. Historically, food security was the primary global concern, but with advancements in this area, developing nations are now shifting their focus to nutritional security, which emphasizes foods rich in essential vitamins and minerals. Micronutrients like iron, zinc, selenium, magnesium, calcium, iodine, and vitamins such as provitamin A and folate are crucial for human growth and development. A deficiency in these nutrients results in what is known as "hidden hunger." Addressing these deficiencies through biofortification can help alleviate malnutrition, particularly among women and children in developing countries. The biofortification of vegetables with vitamins and minerals are now an urgent need to combat various health challenges. Three main methods are used for biofortifying vegetables and staple crops: conventional breeding, the agronomic approach (applying mineral fertilizers), and genetic engineering. These strategies hold great potential to reduce vitamin and micronutrient deficiencies, and a variety of genes can be targeted to improve micronutrient content in vegetables. These tools can significantly boost the levels of vitamins and micronutrients in staple crops and vegetables, offering a way to tackle malnutrition.