Aug 2026· The Scientist· Vol 8, pp. 188· 0 citations· 153 references
Abstract
Micronutrient deficiencies, collectively known as hidden hunger, affect more than two billion people worldwide and remain a major challenge for sustainable agriculture, global food security and human nutrition. Crop biofortification has emerged as a sustainable agricultural strategy to enhance the concentration and bioavailability of essential micronutrients in edible plant tissues while reducing reliance on post-harvest fortification and dietary supplementation. This review provides an integrated analysis of the soil, plant physiological, agronomic and molecular processes governing biofortification efficiency in agricultural systems. Particular emphasis is placed on how soil formation, mineralogy, nutrient speciation, organic matter and rhizosphere interactions regulate micronutrient availability, root uptake, translocation and accumulation in crops. The review further examines plant physiological mechanisms involved in nutrient acquisition and partitioning, together with the contribution of beneficial microorganisms, precision agriculture and digital technologies to improving nutrient-use efficiency under diverse agricultural conditions. Conventional breeding, agronomic biofortification, transgenic approaches and genome-editing technologies are critically evaluated as complementary strategies for developing nutrient-enriched and climate-resilient crop varieties. Particular attention is also given to nutrient bioavailability, post-harvest stability and consumer acceptance, which ultimately determine the nutritional effectiveness of biofortified crops. Furthermore, the review discusses how climate change modifies soil properties, plant physiology and crop productivity, thereby influencing micronutrient availability, nutrient accumulation and the long-term effectiveness of biofortification programmes. By integrating advances in soil science, plant physiology, agronomy and molecular biology, this review identifies current challenges, knowledge gaps and future research priorities for developing resilient biofortification strategies capable of supporting sustainable agricultural systems and improving global nutritional security.
Greenhouse gasses emission, depletion of nutrients and soil degradation are major factors that are deteriorating soil health. A global challenge to agriculture is the production of enough crops while reducing the impact of intensive chemical inputs on the environment. Humic acids (HA), a main fraction of humic substances produced through humification of organic matter, are considered as multi-functional biostimulants playing an important role in sustainable and climate-smart crop production systems. Recent developments in molecular spectroscopy, humeomics, and soil–plant systems biology have significantly changed our understanding of HA; from inert recalcitrant macropolymers to supramolecular assemblies that are dynamic and govern soil physicochemical properties, microbial activity and plant physiological responses. This review critically synthesizes the available evidence on structure–function relationships of HA with soil fertility restoration, nutrient-use efficiency, crop productivity and environmental sustainability. Emphasis is placed on mechanisms involved in humic acid-mediated soil aggregation, cation exchange capacity improvement, nutrient chelation and modification of root architecture, hormonal signaling and stress tolerance. Nutrient-use efficiency can be improved through HA applications and lower synthetic fertilizer inputs, as well as long-term stabilization of soil carbon and immobilization of heavy metals through the formation of stable organo-mineral complexes. Despite these benefits, substantial variability in HA sources, extraction protocols and molecular composition as well as adoption methodologies continue to limit their reproducibility and widespread application. Knowledge gaps, such as the standardization of molecular characterization, omics-level validation of the plant and microbial responses, long-term field-scale assessment for carbon (C) permanence and agronomic performance of HA are discussed in this review. It also proposes future research and policy needs to develop humic-based amendments for resilient low-input agricultural systems.
M. Drosos, O. Oyebiyi, Muzammal Hoque et al.· Journal of Soils and Sedimen...· 0 citations
Iron (Fe) and selenium (Se) deficiencies are global health concerns associated with adverse health outcomes. Plants constitute a dietary source of these elements, particularly for individuals following plant-based diets. However, plant Fe availability is limited by soil processes that reduce Fe mobility and uptake, whereas Se accumulation is constrained by the low abundance of Se in soils. Increasing Fe and Se concentrations in edible plant parts through biofortification represents a sustainable strategy to alleviate micronutrient deficiency. This review examines the mechanisms governing Fe and Se uptake, translocation, metabolism, and genetic regulation, and discusses current biofortification strategies, including agronomic practices, natural and microbial-based approaches, conventional breeding and marker-assisted selection, transgenic technologies, and nanoparticles. While cereals remain the principal targets of large-scale biofortification programs, recent advances in horticultural crops are also highlighted because of their growing nutritional and commercial importance. Current evidence indicates that integrated agronomic and genetic approaches are more effective than single interventions, although simultaneous Fe and Se biofortification remains largely underexplored. Successful biofortification is also strongly influenced by soil properties, nutrient interactions, and crop genotype. Emerging tools, including plant–microbe interactions and synthetic biology, offer promising opportunities to enhance micronutrient accumulation and bioavailability. Further research should optimize integrated Fe–Se biofortification strategies while addressing agronomic and socioeconomic constraints to support their large-scale adoption and contribute to sustainable food systems.
S. Celletti, Michela Schiavon· Agronomy· 0 citations
A sustainable way to combat hunger is biofortification, which entails using genetic engineering or traditional breeding to increase the nutritional content of basic crops. The importance of biofortification in preventing world hunger is covered in this abstract, along with a summary of the methods used to enrich crops with vital nutrients. The efficacy of several biofortification techniques, such as traditional breeding, transgenic approaches and agronomic practices, in raising the concentrations of essential elements like iron, zinc, vitamin A and vitamin C in staple crops including rice, wheat, maize, and cassava is being investigated. This abstract highlights the success stories of biofortified crops, such as iron and zinc-enriched beans, vitamin A-rich rice, and selenium-fortified wheat. These crops have demonstrated the potential to contribute significantly to alleviating nutrient deficiencies, especially in regions where traditional diets lack essential micronutrients. It also highlights the necessity of multidisciplinary cooperation between farmers, policymakers, nutritionists, breeders, and plant scientists in order to enhance global public health outcomes and hasten the adoption of biofortified crops. Biofortification stands as a promising avenue for enhancing crop nutrient content and addressing global malnutrition challenges. Continued research, investment, and collaboration are crucial to advancing biofortification strategies and realizing their potential to improve the nutritional status of populations worldwide.
R. S. Sengar, Garima Sharma, Shalini Gupta· Progressive Agriculture· 0 citations
The choice between organic and inorganic amendment strategies for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production has profound implications for soil health, crop productivity, fruit quality, environmental sustainability, and smallholder livelihoods in tropical agro-ecological regions. This review provides a systematic comparative analysis of organic amendmentssuch as compost, vermicompost, biochar, green manures, microbial inoculants, and inorganic fertilizers (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compounds, micronutrient fertilizers) across dimensions of yield response, soil physicochemical improvement, economic feasibility, and long-term soil health trajectories. Evidence from peer-reviewed field studies (2018–2025) consistently demonstrates that organic amendments match or exceed inorganic fertilizer yield outcomes over multi-season timeframes while generating substantial co-benefits for soil organic carbon, microbial diversity, water retention, and disease suppression that mineral fertilizers do not provide. Integrated strategies combining organic and reduced-rate inorganic inputs achieve the greatest short-term yields while progressively improving soil health. Nigerian evidence on organic pest management with neem extract and Path-Away® organic formulations demonstrates that organic principles extend beyond soil fertility management to encompass full agronomic systems in which synthetic chemical inputs are minimized. This review proposes criteria for evidence-based selection between organic, inorganic, and integrated amendment strategies in tropical tomato systems.
Adesakin, O. R., Adeboye, S. E., B. A. Gonimi et al.· RA Journal Of Applied Resear...· 0 citations
Agricultural systems are increasingly challenged by climate change, resource scarcity, environmental degradation, and the need to ensure food security for a growing global population. Addressing these multifaceted challenges requires innovative, science-driven approaches that enhance productivity while promoting ecological sustainability. This editorial examines the evolving role of plant biotechnology as a key driver of modern agricultural advancement, highlighting recent developments in genomics, multi-omics technologies, molecular breeding, genome editing, plant tissue culture, and digital agriculture. It discusses how these technologies contribute to the development of resilient crop varieties with improved tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, enhanced nutrient-use efficiency, and superior agronomic performance. The editorial further emphasizes the integration of artificial intelligence, high-throughput phenotyping, bioinformatics, and systems biology into precision crop improvement, enabling more efficient translation of molecular discoveries into field applications. The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, responsible innovation, biosafety, and science-based regulatory frameworks is also considered in supporting the sustainable deployment of emerging biotechnologies. Looking ahead, the convergence of advanced molecular tools with computational and ecological sciences is expected to accelerate the development of resilient agricultural systems capable of addressing future environmental and food production challenges. Continued investment in research, technological innovation, and international collaboration will be essential to maximize the societal and environmental benefits of next-generation crop improvement strategies.
Md. Mosharraf Hossen· Journal of Agriculture and F...· 0 citations
Rice-based agroecosystems in Bangladesh face mounting challenges from nutrient imbalance, declining soil organic matter, climate-related stress and inefficient fertilizer management. While intensive fertilizer use has raised productivity, it has also reduced nutrient use efficiency and degraded soil quality. Nanofertilizers and organic soil amendments have emerged as complementary strategies to improve nutrient management and soil health in rice systems. This review synthesizes 85 peer-reviewed field, pot and laboratory studies (2005-2025) from Bangladesh and comparable South Asian agroecosystems, evaluating the individual and combined effects of nanofertilizers and soil amendments (biochar, compost, green manure, lime) on rice productivity, soil properties, nutrient dynamics and environmental outcomes. Nanofertilizers improve nutrient use efficiency through controlled release, while amendments enhance soil organic carbon, microbial activity and nutrient retention. Combined application produces synergistic gains, with yield improvements of approximately 25-40% reported under specific experimental conditions. These integrated strategies reduce nutrient losses, strengthen soil function and support more efficient, climate-resilient rice production aligned with SDGs 2, 6, 13 and 15. Most available evidence, however, derives from short-term field and pot trials; long-term, multi-location studies are needed to evaluate nanoparticle fate, environmental safety, economic feasibility and farmer adoption under diverse rice-growing conditions before large-scale deployment.
Ishrat Alam, Khalid Syfullah, Bijoya Saha et al.· Agricultural Science Digest...· 0 citations
