Tag: Iodine biofortification

Globally, iodine deficiency remains a significant public health issue, impacting billions and leading to severe health problems. In many inland and mountainous regions, the natural iodine content of soil is low, affecting the iodine levels in food crops grown there. The use of iodised soil is therefore advisable as a strategic agricultural intervention, primarily for the biofortification of crops to increase the dietary iodine intake for human and animal consumption.

While iodine is not as common in land-based plants as it is in marine life, recent research has confirmed that plants do need and absorb this essential element in micro-molar doses. The iodine content varies significantly depending on the soil composition and growing conditions, with seaweed being the most consistently rich plant source.