title: Metabolic engineering of micronutrients in crop plants.
abstract: Micronutrient deficiency is a widespread phenomenon, most prevalent in developing countries. Being causally linked to the occurrence of a range of diseases, it affects billions of people worldwide. Enhancing the content of micronutrients in crop products through biotechnology is a promising technique to fight micronutrient malnutrition worldwide. Micronutrient fortification of food products has been implemented in a number of Western countries, but remains inaccessible for poor rural populations in a major part of the developing world. Moreover, evidence of the negative impacts of this practice on human health, at least for some vitamins, is accumulating. Biofortification of crop plants-the enhancement of vitamins and minerals through plant biotechnology-is a promising alternative or complement in the battle against micronutrient deficiencies. Owing to a growing knowledge about vitamin metabolism, as well as mineral uptake and reallocation in plants, it is today possible to enhance micronutrient levels in crop plants, offering a sustainable solution to populations with a suboptimal micronutrient intake.
authors: Laboratory of Functional Plant Biology, Department of Physiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Dieter
authors: D
authors: Blancquaert
authors: Division Agri-Food Marketing & Chain Management, Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: De Steur
authors: Division Agri-Food Marketing & Chain Management, Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Xavier
authors: X
authors: Gellynck
authors: Laboratory of Functional Plant Biology, Department of Physiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Dominique
authors: D
authors: Van Der Straeten
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000628:therapy; D000818:Animals; D000072759:Biofortification; D001682:Biological Availability; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D060847:Metabolic Engineering; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000032:analysis* / Q000172:deficiency; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D014815:Vitamins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D008903:Minerals; D014815:Vitamins
keywords: biofortification; folate; iron; metabolic engineering; micronutrients; vitamin A