Biofortification In Cereals

The book addresses recent advances in biofortification using different approaches like foliar fertilizer, plant breeding, and genetic engineering as well as its utilization for improvement of nutritional quality of cereals. The content compiled is contributed by the renowned scientists actively working in the area of the cereal biofortification. This is an authentic, reliable, and exhaustive compilation bringing together the technological advancements, fundamental principles, and applicability of scientific innovations in biofortification. It also discusses policies and regulations for the implication of various strategies. It is useful reading material for researchers and students in the field.

A Detailed Reference on How Modern Biotechnology is using the Biofortification of Crops to Improve the Vitamin and Mineral Content of Edible Plants In this reference, Vitamins and Minerals Bio-Fortification of Edible Plants, authors cover new territory on phytonutrients, focusing on the enhancement and modification of edible crops. This book presents techniques and research findings from modern biotechnology to educate readers on the newest tools and research in the field. Readers will learn how groundbreaking scientific advances have contributed to the nutritional content of edible plants and crops for animals and humans. Inside, readers will find comprehensive information on new concepts of biofortification, including but not limited to: ● Modern biotechnology and its uses for improving the vitamin and mineral content of edible plants ● Potential minerals and vitamins that can be targeted and implemented in agriculture ● Ways of enhancing the nutritional contents of edible plants to address nutritional deficiencies and improve livestock ● Methods of identifying plants that can be used to heal or prevent disease and illness While many books cover the phytonutrients of crops, this reference book reports on methodologies, techniques, and environmental changes used to enhance and improve agricultural products. It is one of the first to provide information on using modern biotechnologies to modify crops with the goal of creating health benefits.

Achieving zero hunger and food security is a top priority in the United Nations Development Goals (UNDGs). In an era characterized by high population growth and increasing pressure on agricultural systems, efficiency in the use of natural resources has become central to sustainable agricultural practices. Fundamentally speaking, eco-efficiency is about maximizing agricultural outputs, in terms of quantity and quality, using less land, water, nutrients, energy, labor, or capital. The concept of eco-efficiency involves both the ecological and economic aspects of sustainable agriculture. It is therefore essential to understand the interaction of ecosystem constituents within the extensive agricultural landscape, as well as farmers’ economic needs. This book examines the latest eco-efficient practices used in agro-systems. Drawing upon research and examples from around the world, it offers an up-to-date overview, together with insights into directly applicable approaches for poly-cropping systems and landscape-scale management to improve the stability of agricultural production systems, helping achieve food security. The book will be of interest to educators, researchers, climate change scientists, capacity builders and policymakers alike. It can also be used as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate courses on agriculture, forestry, soil science, and the environmental sciences.

Wheat and Barley Grain Biofortification addresses topics associated with the alleviation of malnutrition in globally diverse populations via wheat and barley biofortification. The book synthesizes the current trends of malnutrition across the globe, the need for wheat and barley nutritional enhancement and how agronomic, microbial and molecular understanding of biofortification can help in devising significant approaches and strategies. In addition, it includes discussions on potential genetic variability available and their efficient utilization in wheat and barley for molecular breeding for nutrients, challenges and opportunities for bioavailability, and technical advancement for analysis of bioavailability. Addresses the need for wheat and barley biofortification to address global nutrition demands Places emphasis on the current agronomic and molecular understanding of biofortification Discusses the potential utilization of genetic variability Highlights the economics of biofortification over fortification technology

Biofortification, which can be defined as the process of increasing the content/density of essential nutrients and/or its bioavailability of food with valuable compounds, is a promising means of increasing nutrient intakes. Traditional fortification practices in which exogenous nutrients are added to food can increase the content of nutrients but the use of biofortified foods with nutrients also may deliver the compounds in a more available form, as well as boost the overall relative effectiveness of these foods in raising nutrients status. Food Biofortification Technologies presents the state of the art in the field of novel methods of fortification and agricultural treatments as a way to improve the quality of obtained food products or compounds enriched with valuable nutrients. The book deals with fortification methods and agricultural treatments, which can improve the quality of food products or other agricultural compounds, providing them with a higher density of valuable nutrients. The utilization of novel products, such as feed additives and fertilizers, can avert nutrients depletion in food products. The book describes new and conventional methods of introducing valuable compounds into food components and presents the application of biosorption, bioaccumulation, and utilization of fertilizers in obtaining designer food. Attention is paid to the use of biomass as the carrier of nutrients such as microelements into the food components. The chapters are dedicated to specific food products and their nutrient components. The first chapter discusses the agronomic biofortification with micronutrients where the fertilization strategies are pointed out as a key to plant/cereals fortification. Other chapters present the fortification of animal foodstuffs such as meat, fish, milk, and eggs as well as the fortification of plant foodstuffs such as vegetables, fruits, and cereals. The book also explores advances in food fortification with vitamins and co-vitamins, essential minerals, essential fatty and amino acids, phytonutrients, and enzymes.

This book volume sheds light on the health benefits of selected cereal grains, processing technologies of cereals, specific roles of bioactive compounds of cereals in chronic disease prevention, and traditional and latest technologies to improve the functional benefits of cereal-based products. It presents a thorough review of the functional components of some lesser known or forgotten cereals and their role in maintaining good health. With advancements in cereal science and technology, new methods of processing have emerged that help to preserve or even enhance the health-benefitting properties of cereal grains. Further, plant breeding and biotechnology have contributed greatly in improving nutritional quality and functionality of these grains. This book provides comprehensive information on the simple as well as advanced methodologies for enhancing the properties of cereals that benefit human health. Some new approaches such as bio-fortification and extraction of bioactives from cereals are also included in the text.

The chapters presented in this book ‘Biofortification of Food Crops’ depict how agricultural technological interventions have true role in alleviating malnutrition. This book highlights the role of multidisciplinary approaches to cope up with the challenges of micronutrient malnutrition or hidden hunger which is an alarming public health issue in most parts of the world including India. In this endeavour, different biofortification approaches such as agronomic (or ferti-fortification), breeding, biotechnological, physiological, microbial etc. has fulfilled their different mandates of nutrient enrichment of food crops including cereals and pulses. The contents of the book proves that biofortified plants have adequate potential to nourish nutrient depleted soils, help increase crop productivity and provide nutritional benefits to plants, humans and livestock. The content and quality of information presented in this book will definitely provide multiple novel ideas of advance techniques and will stimulate innovative thoughts and directions amongst researchers and policy makers in the field of biofortification. In addition, the contributions presented in the book will be a good source of background knowledge and technical know-how to educate the readers about biofortification. The authors hope that the book entitled “Biofortification of Food Crops” would provide a suitable platform in our collective efforts for an appropriate dialogue among the scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, policy makers and farmers in reducing the budding issues of malnutrition through novel approaches and means.