Next-Generation Biofortification: Integrating Microbial, Agronomic, and Precision Breeding Strategies for Nutritional Security and SDG 2 and 3

Micronutrient deficiency — commonly referred to as "hidden hunger" — affects over two billion people globally, disproportionately impacting low- and middle-income countries where dietary diversity is limited and staple-crop-dependent food systems prevail. Despite decades of intervention through supplementation and food fortification, these approaches remain costly, infrastructure-dependent, and unsustainable in the long term. Biofortification — the process of increasing the nutritional value of crops through biological, agronomic, and genetic means — has emerged as a scalable, cost-effective, and sustainable strategy to combat micronutrient deficiencies at the source of food production. Achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) demands urgent, integrated, and science-driven solutions, and next-generation biofortification sits at the heart of this agenda.This Research Topic brings together interdisciplinary perspectives to explore how the convergence of three powerful pillars — microbial approaches, agronomic innovations, and precision breeding technologies — can collectively transform global nutritional outcomes. Microbial-based biofortification, including the application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), mycorrhizal fungi, and fermentation-based strategies, offers biologically sustainable pathways to enhance the content and bioavailability of essential vitamins and minerals in food crops. These microbiome-responsive approaches are particularly promising for smallholder farming systems where synthetic inputs are economically inaccessible.Agronomic innovations — including soil nutrient management, optimized fertilizer application, intercropping, and climate-smart agricultural practices — remain foundational to biofortification programs worldwide. When coupled with advanced understanding of soil-plant-microbe interactions, these strategies can significantly amplify the delivery of zinc, iron, selenium, and other critical micronutrients into edible plant tissues.Precision breeding technologies, encompassing marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, and modern gene-editing platforms, represent the frontier of crop nutritional improvement. These tools allow targeted enhancement of biosynthetic pathways responsible for micronutrient accumulation, enabling the development of nutritionally superior crop varieties with broad adaptability and farmer acceptance.This Research Topic welcomes original research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, perspectives, and opinion pieces that address — but are not limited to — the following themes: microbial inoculants and biofertilizers for biofortification; soil microbiome engineering for nutrient bioavailability; genomic and transcriptomic approaches to nutrient pathway enhancement; agronomic field trials evaluating biofortified crop performance; policy frameworks and adoption barriers for biofortified crops; and the contribution of biofortification to SDG 2 and SDG 3 targets.By fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue among microbiologists, agronomists, plant breeders, nutritionists, and policymakers, this Research Topic aims to accelerate the translation of biofortification science into actionable, equitable, and sustainable food systems for the future.Micronutrient deficiency — "hidden hunger" — remains a critical global public health crisis, with more than half the world's population consuming inadequate levels of essential vitamins and minerals, including iron, calcium, iodine, and vitamin E. Conventional interventions such as supplementation and industrial food fortification are cost-dependent, infrastructure-reliant, and fail to reach the most vulnerable populations, particularly in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Existing biofortification programs, while promising, remain fragmented across disciplines and lack integrated, scalable frameworks.This Research Topic addresses the urgent need to consolidate and advance three complementary strategies: microbial biofortification through PGPR, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and biofertilizers that enhance nutrient solubilization and bioavailability in staple crops; agronomic innovations that optimize soil-plant nutrient dynamics; and precision breeding tools, including marker-assisted selection and genomic approaches, that enable targeted enhancement of micronutrient biosynthetic pathways. By integrating these pillars, this Research Topic aims to generate actionable science that directly contributes to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being).This Research Topic welcomes interdisciplinary contributions that advance the science and application of biofortification through microbial, agronomic, and precision breeding approaches. Specific themes of interest include:Microbial biofortification — PGPR, mycorrhizal fungi, nitrogen-fixing and zinc/iron-solubilizing bioinoculants for enhanced crop nutrient densityAgronomic strategies — soil nutrient management, fertilizer optimization, intercropping, and climate-smart practices for micronutrient deliveryPrecision breeding and genomics — marker-assisted selection, QTL mapping, genomic selection, and gene-editing platforms for nutritional trait improvementBioavailability and food systems — post-harvest processing, antinutrient reduction, and consumer acceptance of biofortified cropsPolicy and sustainability — adoption barriers, cost-effectiveness analyses, and SDG 2 and SDG 3 alignment frameworksOne Health perspectives — linking soil microbiome health, crop nutrition, and human dietary outcomesWe invite original research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, perspectives, mini-reviews, and opinion pieces. Studies focusing on staple crops — including wheat, rice, maize, legumes, and millets — from low- and middle-income country contexts are particularly encouraged. Topic editors: Priya Mishra, Jitendra Mishra, Abhishek Sharma Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82222/next-generation-biofortification-integrating-microbial-agronomic-and-precision-breeding-strategies-for-nutritional-security-and-sdg-2-and-3