Zinc crops 2007: improving crop production and human health

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is recognized as a serious threat to both crop production and human health globally. It has been estimated that half of the cereal-cultivated soils have insufficient Zn to support high crop yields and to provide grains of high nutritional quality. As a result, Zn deficiency in humans tends to be prevalent in regions with Zn-deficient soils, particularly in the developing world. Currently, one-third of the world population is at risk of Zn deficiency causing severe health complications, such as impairments in physical development, immune system and brain function (Hotz and Brown 2004). Continuous reliance on high proportion of cereal-based foods with low amount and availability of Zn appears to be the major reason for the widespread occurrence of the Zn-deficiency problem in humans. Enrichment of cereal grains with Zn through both genetic (e.g., breeding) and agronomic (e.g., application of Zn fertilizers) biofortification is, therefore, a high priority area of research, and will contribute to minimizing Zn-deficiency-related health problems in human populations (Bouis 2003; Cakmak 2008). The Zinc Crops 2007 Conference, held in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 24–26 in 2007, has been organized to review and discuss the latest knowledge and best agricultural practices in addressing Zn deficiency and its impact on global crop production and human health. Distinguished keynote speakers have been invited to deliver speeches on the following conference topics: