Micronutrient deficiency, known as hidden hunger, is a serious global problem. Biofortification is a cost-effective and sustainable agricultural strategy for increasing the concentrations or bioavailability of essential elements in the edible parts of plants, minimizing the risks of toxic metals, and thus reducing malnutrition. It has the advantage of delivering micronutrient-dense food crops to a large part of the global population, especially poor populations. Agronomic biofortification and biofertilization, and optimized fertilizer applications are more globally accepted; however, biofortification based on genetic engineering such as increasing or manipulating the expression of genes that affect the regulation of metal homeostasis and carrier proteins that serve to increase the micronutrient content for higher nutrient concentration and greater productivity. Agronomic biofortification, the process of increasing micronutrient content in food crops through agronomic approaches, is seen as an important process to improve the status of malnutrition in the world. It is seen as a quick, safe, and cost-friendly approach to provide iron, zinc, and other micronutrients in our everyday diet. Unlike molecular/genetic approaches, agronomic biofortification is done on existing crops and varieties and hence the product is easily accepted by the consumers. A huge increase in food production must be achieved to feed the ever-increasing world population and to sustain human well-being. To meet the challenge of food security, agricultural production must be increased on the existing land, and therefore crop production must be intensified per unit of land.

Agronomic biofortification is the application of micronutrient-containing mineral fertilizer to the soil and/or plant leaves to increase micronutrient contents of the edible part of food crops. Hidden hunger is the term used to describe the deficiency of micronutrients such as zinc and iron. Hidden hunger can be solved by biofortifying food crops. Biofortification helps in achieving overall health improvement in the people. Biofortification of staple crops such as rice is intended as a sustainable, cost-effective and food-based means of delivering target micronutrients to populations who do not have access to or cannot afford diverse diets and other existing interventions such as fortified foods and supplementation. Biofortification, a form of food fortification involves the increase in the quantities and bioaccessibility of nutrients in food crops during their growth. Biofortification addresses the nutritional needs of both urban and rural populations and could be implemented at low costs. Bio-fortification is effective in removing hidden hunger and improving the nutritional value of food. Increasing dietary diversity by providing foods with adequate amounts of micronutrients is one of the most effective ways to sustainably prevent hidden hunger. It is important to fulfil the micronutrients' need through nutrient-dense complementary food.

Agronomic bio-fortification approaches have shown great potential in improving the nutritional quality of crops and tackling hidden hunger, which is a major concern for food security. These approaches involve the use of various agricultural practices such as nutrient management, crop rotation, intercropping, and the use of bio-fertilizers to enhance the concentration of micronutrients in crops.

Several studies have reported successful outcomes of agronomic bio-fortification in improving the nutritional status of crops, particularly in developing countries where malnutrition is prevalent. For example, the use of zinc fertilizers in wheat production has been shown to increase the concentration of zinc in grains, which can help address zinc deficiency in populations that rely on wheat as a staple food.

Furthermore, agronomic bio-fortification can be cost-effective and sustainable in the long run, as it can be integrated into existing agricultural practices and does not require significant changes in crop management. However, there are still challenges that need to be addressed, such as identifying the most effective bio-fortification approaches for different crops and regions, as well as ensuring the accessibility and affordability of bio-fortified crops for vulnerable populations.

Agronomic bio-fortification has the potential to make a significant impact on global food security and improve the health and well-being of millions of people, but further research and implementation efforts are needed to fully realize its potential.

Dear Samiullah Khan thanks you for your contribution to the discussion

Biofortification has several advantages over food fortification. After the initial investment to develop the biofortified seed, it can be replicated and distributed without any reduction in the micronutrient concentration. This makes it highly cost-effective and sustainable. Biofortification of staple crops such as rice is intended as a sustainable, cost-effective and food-based means of delivering target micronutrients to populations who do not have access to or cannot afford diverse diets and other existing interventions such as fortified foods and supplementation. Biofortification of staple crops such as rice is intended as a sustainable, cost-effective and food-based means of delivering target micronutrients to populations who do not have access to or cannot afford diverse diets and other existing interventions such as fortified foods and supplementation. Agronomic biofortification is the application of micronutrient-containing mineral fertilizer to the soil and/or plant leaves to increase micronutrient contents of the edible part of food crops. Hidden hunger is the term used to describe the deficiency of micronutrients such as zinc and iron. Agronomic biofortification of crops is achieved through the application of mineral fertilizers to increase the concentrations of minerals in edible crops, but it may have important extra effects for increasing yield on marginal or infertile soils. With food fortification or enrichment, we can regain the nutrients lost during food processing or storage. Fortified foods contain micronutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients. They are crucial for enzymes, hormones, and various substances production, which participate in growth and development.Bio-fortification is an emerging method to increase the micronutrient values of crops in order to eradicate hidden hunger in developing nations. Hidden hunger is a lack of vitamins and minerals. Hidden hunger occurs when the quality of food people eat does not meet their nutrient requirements, so the food is deficient in micronutrients such as the vitamins and minerals that they need for their growth and development. Hidden hunger, or micronutrient deficiencies, occurs when the quality of food that people eat does not meet their nutrient requirements, so they are not getting the essential vitamins and minerals they need for their growth and development. It affects two billion people across the globe. With diversity in diet, many food constituents like antioxidants, and probiotics can be taken, thus improving the nutrient intake of the population as such. Hence, diet diversification is the preferred method of combating hidden hunger.