Mineral deficiency is one of the main global challenges to human health for people who live especially in developing world. It is known as ‘Hidden hunger’, results in poor growth and compromised psychomotor development of children, reduced immunity, fatigue, irritability, weakness, hair loss, wasting of muscles, sterility, morbidity and death. Iron and zinc mineral deficiency are the most common and widespread, afflicting more than half of the human population. Non-diversified cereal and plant based diets, which are poor in micronutrients, are the main reason for micronutrient deficiency in the populations. To alleviate this malnutrition problem, breeding strategies through use of bio-fortification is the best option to improve the quality of the plants through the addition of the desired minerals to food stuffs. Moreover, dietary diversification, supplementation, fortification and bio-fortification of crop plants are the main approaches to alleviate micronutrient malnutrition.

Bio-fortification, hidden hunger, mineral deficiency, plant breeding