Abstract
Ending all forms of hunger by 2030, as set forward in the UN-Sustainable Development Goal 2 (UN-SDG2), is a daunting but essential task, given the limited timeline ahead and the negative global health and socio-economic impact of hunger. Malnutrition or hidden hunger due to micronutrient deficiencies affects about one third of the world population and severely jeopardizes economic development. Staple crop biofortification through gene stacking, using a rational combination of conventional breeding and metabolic engineering strategies, should enable a leap forward within the coming decade. A number of specific actions and policy interventions are proposed to reach this goal.
Highlights
Introduction in local varietiesMulti-biofortified crop enhancement[57], similar to the routine stacking of transgenes for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance in cotton and maize[58,59].Combining several nutrition-related genes from multiple parents, including genetically engineered crops such as Golden Rice, into a single genotype through conventional backcrossing is possible, but very time-consuming and laborious
Biofortified crops have been developed via conventional breeding or genetic engineering, the latter have yet to receive full approval for release to farmers
In the last few years, the cost-effectiveness and feasibility of implementing biofortification using conventional breeding techniques has been established as a key intervention to reduce mineral and vitamin deficiencies in developing countries[8]
Summary
Introduction in local varietiesMulti-biofortified crop enhancement[57], similar to the routine stacking of transgenes for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance in cotton and maize[58,59].Combining several nutrition-related genes from multiple parents, including genetically engineered crops such as Golden Rice, into a single genotype through conventional backcrossing is possible, but very time-consuming and laborious. Biofortified crops have been developed via conventional breeding or genetic engineering, the latter have yet to receive full approval for release to farmers. Genetic engineering enables simultaneous augmentation of multiple micronutrients, along with improving the post-harvest stability of vitamins, whilst including agronomically important traits, such as enhanced yield and stress resilience.
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