Future Aspects of Grain Quality and Role of Technologists in Its Management

Abstract

The global population is exploding, and universal issues such as climate change, urbanization, and land use for the production of non-food crops deepen these concerns for increasing food demand. Continuously increasing water scarcity, soil salinization due to heavy irrigation, invasion of invasive weed species, and the resistance of pests and diseases against a growing number of agrochemicals are other major challenges for conventional agricultural production. More than 60% of the total cultivable land on earth is occupied by cereal grains since they are considered the major source of a staple diet among a large number of citizens. Cereal grains and cereal-based food products are the chief components of diets, particularly in developing counties. Cereal grain–mediated health remuneration could be credited to the coactive impact of phytochemicals, dietary fibers, and micronutrients. Microbial contamination of grains, impact of weeds during cultivation, water-deficient land, and poor irrigation techniques are some of the major concerns of cereal grain management. This chapter discusses various aspects of grain quality and technological advancements for its management in the near future.