Question

What do you mean by biofortification?

Answer 1

Biofortification is a process by which nutritional quality of food crops is improved via agronomic practices, conventional breeding and modern biotechnology. It is a method of breeding crops to produce varieties with increased nutrition value. Seed priming and selective breeding are also used in biofortification. Example is development of golden rice to mitigate the vitamin A deficiency.

Complete answer
Biofortification is a process of breeding plants with greater levels of fats, minerals, proteins and vitamins. This process is used to improve public health. To improve the protein, oil, vitamins, minerals and micronutrients’ contents in crops, this type of breeding is undertaken. Quality of oil and proteins have also been improved. Example is Atlas , a wheat variety. It exhibits higher protein content in comparison to existing wheat varieties.
Several improved varieties of crops like spinach, carrots and rice have higher nutrients and larger nutrient values than existing varieties. Even, fats will be rendered healthier due to biofortification. Quality of food has been enhanced and is made healthier.
Biofortification increases nutrients during the planting stage itself, rather than in the processing stage of planted crops. Biofortified crops can outperform the crops grown through organic farming and help in ensuring a more balanced diet to the consumers in the long term.
Conventional biofortification is done through cross breeding.
Agronomic biofortification is application of required minerals to the soil for the transfer of micronutrients to plants.
Biotechnology involves gene modification, which initially lacked important micronutrients.

Note:
Biofortification is a plant breeding programme designed to increase the nutritive value of crops. Spinach and pumpkin have more vitamins, when compared to existing varieties. Though individuals consume food regularly, getting adequate nutrition is a doubt. In getting rid of this doubt, biofortification has been used. Biofortification is beneficial to the people, who do not have access to a diverse diet.