Selenium Agronomic Biofortification in Rice: Improving Crop Quality Against Malnutrition

Abstract

Human micronutrient malnutrition, in particular selenium (Se) deficitary availability, affects millions of people around the world. Diet is the most important source of Se, and rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the most important staple crop for human consumption, feeding about half of the world’s population, thus with a unique potential to improve health through food. Selenium is an essential element for men and animals, having also important roles in plant metabolism. Several programs were implemented worldwide to mitigate an insufficiency micronutrient intake in humans, including Se. Among the used strategies, agronomic Se biofortification stands out as a feasible, efficient, fast, reliable, sustainable, more accessible, and cost-effective strategy, to respond to such widespread human malnutrition, particularly in rural areas and in developing countries, having the additional advantage of partly overcoming deficient distribution infrastructure and health systems in these regions. This review highlights the role of Se in human health and in plants, the Se agronomic biofortification success over the last two decades, focusing particularly in rice, and underlies the future challenges ahead to guarantee adequate healthy food products in a difficult and unfavorable context of growing population pressure and ongoing climate changes.