Mechanisms underlying cereal/legume intercropping as nature-based biofortification: A review

Abstract The deficiencies of micronutrients known as hidden hunger are severely affecting more than one-half the world’s population, which is highly related to low bioavailability micronutrients, poor quality diets, and consumption cereal-based foods in developing countries. Although numerous experiments proved biofortification a paramount approach for improving around world, its effectiveness various soil factors, climate conditions, adoption rates biofortified crops. Furthermore, agronomic may result sedimentation heavy metals that pose another detrimental effect on plants human health. In response these challenges, several studies suggested intercropping one feasible, eco-friendly, low-cost, short-term approaches nutritional yield crops sustainable way. Besides, it cornerstone climate-smart agriculture holistic solution most vulnerable area solve malnutrition disturbs healthy catastrophically. Nevertheless, there meager information mechanisms processes soil-plant interspecific interactions lead an increment nutrients tackle crisis micronutrient deficiency nature-based solution. this regard, review tempted (1) explore can favor Zn, Fe, P, etc. edible parts crops, (2) synthesize available benefits synergic role system food security, (3) outline bottlenecks influencing promoting sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Based SSA countries malnourished due limited access diverse supplementation, commercially fortified food; hence, I suggest integrated research by agronomists, plant nutritionists, agroecologist intensify utilize systems sustainably alleviating deficiencies. Graphical