REVIEW ARTICLE CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 123, NO. 3, 10 AUGUST 2022 271 *For correspondence. (e-mail: CN.Neeraja@icar.gov.in) Towards nutrition security of India with biofortified cereal varieties C. N. Neeraja 1, *, Firoz Hossain 2 , K. Hariprasanna 3 , Sewa Ram 4 , C. Tara Satyavathi 5 , T. Longvah 6 , P. Raghu 6 , S. R. Voleti 1 and R. M. Sundaram 1 1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad 500 030, India 2 ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110 012, India 3 ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad 500 030, India 4 ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Aggarsain Marg, Karnal 132 001, India 5 All India Coordinated Research Project on Pearl Millet, Mandor, Jodhpur 342 304, India 6 National Institute of Nutrition, Jamai Osmania, Hyderabad 500 007, India Rice and wheat are the major staples contributing more than 75% to food-grain consumption, while maize, pearl millet and sorghum are important alter- native cereals in India. Cereal biofortification is one of the promising approaches to alleviate micronutrient malnutrition. Here we present an overview of the efforts towards development of biofortified cereal varieties enhanced with iron, zinc, protein and provitamin-A us- ing conventional breeding approaches, and the possi- bilities of scaling up and adoption to ease the burden of malnourishment. Keywords: Biofortification, breeding, cereals, micronu- trient malnutrition, nutrition security. DEFICIENCIES of vitamins or minerals result in micronutri- ents malnutrition, often called hidden hunger as the symp- toms are not apparent like protein–energy malnouri- shment. The Comprehensive National Nutritional Survey (CNNS) of India conducted on around one lakh children during 2016–18 revealed incidences of anaemia, zinc (Zn) and vitamin deficiencies 1 . The Government of India (GoI) implements multiple programmes to address micronutrient malnutrition such as National Nutrition Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan), pro- phylactic supplementation of vitamin A, iron (Fe) and folic acid, and fortification of wheat flour, table salt and milk with vital micronutrients. A special emphasis on complete fortification of rice in the public distribution system (PDS) by 2024 has also been recently mooted by GoI (https://ffrc.fssai.gov.in/ffrc/home). While these serve as effective short-term strategies to increase micronutrient intake to bridge the nutritional gap, dietary diversification is considered as a long-term and sustainable strategy. While increased agricultural production, economic op- portunities and the National Food Security Act contributed to food security, nutrition security, especially micronutrient malnutrition requires further agricultural interventions. Though the production of micronutrients-rich non-staples such as vegetables, pulses, fruits and animal products has also increased, their affordability is less in comparison to staple cereals to people with low purchasing power. Thus, biofortification could be a suitable agricultural interven- tion to enrich micronutrient density in the commonly con- sumed cereals such as rice, wheat, etc. Biofortification refers to the genetic enhancement of key food crops with enhanced nutrients through agronomy, breeding and bio- technology strategies 2 . Biofortification is different from fortification, wherein nutrients are externally added to the food items. Staple cereals have become a major food source during the lockdown period of COVID-19 pandemic in India be- cause of their affordability by the low-income group, ready availability unlike perishable food items and also distribution through PDS. Thus, any incremental impro- vement in the nutritional status of staple cereals would have a direct impact in addressing the micronutrient mal- nutrition in the country. The Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) initiated a global challenge programme through HarvestPlus to develop nutrient-dense staple food crops across the world 3 . With the proof of concept provided by HarvestPlus, several organizations in India started re- search and development projects in the 2000s towards bio- fortified cereals funded through national and international agencies (http://www.icar-iirr.org/CRP/, https://data.gov. in/dataset-group-name/dbt-research-and-development). The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi is playing a major role in ensuring food securi- ty for the nation by providing the research thrust for pro- duction of food grains (www.icar.org.in). Realizing the necessity of better nutrition in food grains, ICAR started several special programmes on development and populari- zation of biofortified crops and more than four million hectares is estimated to be under cultivation of biofortified crops in India 4 . The present review summarizes the efforts