Vol. 14, Issue 12 (2025)

Micronutrients required for normal human growth are deficient in major food crops. Some micronutrients cannot be synthesized in the human body and hence, they must be supplemented through diet. Iron deficiency impairs mental development, increases weakness and may increase the risk of death during childbirth. Zinc deficiency contributes to stunting and loss of appetite, reduces immunity, and increases the risk of diarrhea and respiratory infections. Biofortification is an upcoming, promising, cost-effective, and sustainable technique for delivering micronutrients to a population with access to diverse diets and other micronutrient interventions. Biofortification approaches includes agronomy, breeding and genetic modification. Improvement in biofortification in lysine and tryptophan- rich quality protein maize, Vitamin A- rich orange sweet potato oleic acid, linoleic acid enrichment in soybean and selenium, iodine, and zinc supplementation are the practical examples of malnutrition. Reduction in anti-nutritional factors such as phytate, erucic acid, glucosinolates and trypsin inhibitor have also been targeted in India in different crops. Among biofortified food crops, specifically cereals, legumes, vegetables, and fruits, provide sufficient micronutrient levels to deprived populations. A greater emphasis has been placed on transgenic research, but the success and acceptability rates of conventional breeding are much higher.