Consider the following statements with respect to Biofortification: It...
Statement 1: It improves the nutrient profile of the food by manually adding nutrients during processing.
Biofortification is a process that aims to enhance the nutritional value of crops by increasing the content of essential vitamins and minerals in their edible parts. However, it does not involve manually adding nutrients during processing. Instead, biofortification is achieved through conventional breeding techniques or genetic engineering to develop crop varieties with higher nutrient content. These nutrients include vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and folate, as well as minerals like iron, zinc, and selenium. By increasing the nutrient content of staple crops, biofortification can help address micronutrient deficiencies in populations that heavily rely on these crops as a major part of their diet.
Statement 2: It is a cost-effective source of conveying micronutrients to the population.
The second statement is correct. Biofortification is considered a cost-effective strategy for delivering essential micronutrients to populations, particularly in resource-poor settings. Unlike other approaches such as supplementation or fortification, which often require additional infrastructure and ongoing distribution efforts, biofortification integrates the enhanced nutrient content directly into the food crop. This means that once the biofortified crop is grown and harvested, the population can consume it without the need for additional processing or distribution. This makes biofortification a sustainable and long-term solution to address micronutrient deficiencies, especially in areas where access to diverse and nutritious foods is limited.
Moreover, biofortified crops can be integrated into existing agricultural systems and do not necessitate major changes in farming practices. This further contributes to the cost-effectiveness of biofortification. Additionally, biofortified crops are often developed to have increased yields, improved disease resistance, and other desirable agronomic traits. This makes them more attractive to farmers and increases the likelihood of adoption, leading to widespread availability and affordability of biofortified foods for the population.
In conclusion, statement 1 is incorrect as biofortification does not involve manually adding nutrients during processing. However, statement 2 is correct as biofortification is indeed a cost-effective source of conveying micronutrients to the population.
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