Folate biofortification in food plants.

Folate deficiency is a global health problem affecting many people in the developing and developed world. Current interventions (industrial food fortification and supplementation by folic acid pills) are effective if they can be used but might not be possible in less developed countries. Recent advances demonstrate that folate biofortification of food crops is now a feasible complementary strategy to fight folate deficiency worldwide.

Enhancement of folates in plants through metabolic engineering.

Humans depend on plants as a major source of dietary folates. Inadequate dietary levels of the vitamin folate can lead to megaloblastic anemia, birth defects, impaired cognitive development, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The biofortification of folate levels in food crops is a target for metabolic engineering.