Question

'Pusa Vishesh' (HD 2851) and 'golden rice' are the varieties of crops modified by scientists to make them rich in minerals and vitamins. Which phenomenon they are related with?

• A. Bioremediation
• B. Biofortification
• C. Biophytoremediation
• D. Xenobiotics

Answer 1

The correct option is B Biofortification

Biofortification is the idea of breeding crops to increase their nutritional value. This can be done either through conventional selective breeding, or through genetic engineering.

Biofortification differs from ordinary fortification, because it focuses on making plant foods more nutritious as the plants are growing, rather than having nutrients added to the foods when they are being processed. This is an improvement on ordinary fortification when it comes to providing nutrients for the rural poor, who rarely have access to commercially fortified foods. As such, biofortification is seen as an upcoming strategy for dealing with deficiencies of micronutrients in the developing world.