Micronutrients for Macro Impact. Fighting Malnutrition through Micronutrient Fertilization

Billions of people, mostly in developing countries, suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, sometimes called “hidden hunger”. The micronutrients most commonly associated with human health problems on a global scale include iron, zinc and iodine, but selenium and fluorine deficiencies are also widespread. In contrast to food security, nutrition security has traditionally been viewed as being within the realm of health professionals. Yet the entire agri-food chain has a vital role to play in addressing this problem. Producing more nutritious food and feed, or “farming for health”, should therefore be a central objective. This means increasing micronutrient content through fertilization, which holds out the promise of fighting deficiencies in soils, plants, animals and people.