Fighting Obesity-Related Micronutrient Deficiencies through Biofortification of Agri-Food Crops with Sustainable Fertilization Practices

Abstract

Obesity is a critical medical condition worldwide that is increasingly involved with nutritional derangements associated with micronutrient deficiencies, including iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, selenium, and vitamins A, C, D, and E. Nutritional deficiencies in obesity are mainly caused by poor-quality diets, higher nutrient requirements, alterations in micronutrient metabolism, and invasive obesity treatments. The current conventional agricultural system is designed for intensive food production, focusing on food quantity rather than food quality, consuming excessive agricultural inputs, and producing nutrient-deficient foods, thus generating severe health and environmental problems; agricultural food products may worsen obesity-related malnutrition. Therefore, modern agriculture is adopting new biofortification technologies to combat micronutrient deficiencies and improve agricultural productivity and sustainability. Biofertilization and nanofertilization practices are increasingly used due to their efficiency, safety, and reduced environmental impact. Biofertilizers are preparations of PGP-microorganisms that promote plant growth by influencing plant metabolism and improving the nutrient uptake, and nanofertilizers consist of synthesized nanoparticles with unique physicochemical properties that are capable of increasing plant nutrition and enriching agricultural products. This review presents the current micronutrient deficiencies associated with obesity, the modern unsustainable agri-food system contributing to obesity progression, and the development of bio- and nanofertilizers capable of biofortifying agri-food crops with micronutrients commonly deficient in patients with obesity.

Identification and Characterization of Beneficial Soil Microbial Strains for the Formulation of Biofertilizers Based on Native Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms Isolated from Northern Mexico

“…The main mechanism implicated in their solubilization involves the synthesis and secretion of organic acids by soil microorganisms. These organic acids are commonly produced from glucose oxidation and are involved in primary metabolism and normal microbial growth and development [ 11 , 20 , 21 ]. Other microbial mechanisms of plant growth promotion may be triggered by different factors, including the presence of specific nutrients in the root exudates such as amino acids, sugars, organic acids, and phenolic compounds, the recognition of signal molecules between the microorganisms and plant roots, the interaction with other microorganisms, and the exposure to stress-associated factors [ 3 , 12 , 14 , 20 , 21 ].…”

“…All bacterial consortia notably improved all agronomic parameters except for BIOCON BAC. Individual application also generated significant increases, but as previously mentioned, it is advisable to apply them as consortia to take advantage of their complementary effect and ensure their survival when applied in the field [ 9 , 11 , 33 ]. Other reports have also revealed significant improvements in the vegetative growth of broccoli and radish when using biofertilizers, similar to those obtained in these experiments [ 34 , 35 , 36 ].…”

“…Direct effects include enhancing plant nutrition by providing nutrients through atmospheric nitrogen (N 2 ) fixation, ammonia (NH 3 ) production, and solubilization of soil minerals (including phosphorus (P), potassium (K), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe)), and improving plant growth by modulating phytohormone levels (including auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, ethylene, and abscisic acid). Indirect modes of action involve improving plant health by suppressing phytopathogens via parasitism, nutrient and niche competition in the rhizosphere, production of antagonistic compounds (such as siderophores and antibiotics) and lytic enzymes (including proteases, glucanases, and chitinases), and stimulating plants systemic resistance against several phytopathogenic microorganisms [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 11 ].…”

“…Beneficial soil microorganisms can be isolated, characterized, identified, and propagated to be used in agriculture as biofertilizers. It is important to exploit the potential of native microorganisms, as several authors indicate that the efficiency of biofertilizers is higher when native strains isolated from the rhizosphere are used [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Successful biofertilization in the field is achieved with high colonization rates.…”

“…Successful biofertilization in the field is achieved with high colonization rates. It has been reported that indigenous microbial strains are more efficient in colonizing plant roots than laboratory or commercial strains; since root colonization and plant–microbial interactions are induced by the root and seed exudates, native microbial strains could be metabolically and genetically adapted to develop those processes [ 11 , 13 , 14 ].…”