Biofortified crops are enhanced crops to increase the nutritional value of the crops (vitamins and minerals). the development of biofortification of crops is used to deal with deficiencies of micro nutrients especially in the developing world.
During breeding of these crops, selection of crops are usually from existing seed banks which are naturally high in nutrients and then cross breed these high nutrient varieties with high yielding variety of crops, to provide a seed with high yields and increased nutritional value.
This process is done to solve the problem of deficiencies of various micronutrients in crops including vitamin A, Zinc and Iron which are common in the developing world and affect billion of people around the world.
Examples of biofortfied crops:
- Iron biofortification of Rice, beans, sweet potato, cassava and legumes.
- Zinc biofortification of wheat, rice, beans, sweet potato and maize.
- Pro vitamin A carotenoid - biofortification of sweet potato, maize and cassava.
- Amino acid and Protein biofortification of sourghum and cassava.
Advantages of Biofortification of Crops
- It yields high nutrient crops
- the crops are virus resistant
- provides up to 25% of daily vitamin A needs.
Where to buy Biofortified stems and seeds for cultivation.
Harvest plus Nigeria - www.harvestplusng.org
Agroshop - www.agroshop.com.ng
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