Trace Elements in Developing Countries Using South Africa as a Case Study

Abstract

In industrial countries, micronutrients and trace elements have been well researched. In developing countries, however, human nutrient deficiencies are immense due to poor people having insufficient quantity and variety of high‐quality nutrient‐rich food. The situation is further aggravated by low levels of available nutrients in the soils of some rural areas. Toxicity problems are also poorly studied and often go unnoticed. Some examples of the extent of the need in developing countries are presented by using South Africa as a case study. Soil and plant analysis plays an important role in finding solutions to the problem in developing countries. Better cooperation between different disciplines is urgently required to find more sustainable solutions. Furthermore, attention needs to be given to information access in developing countries.