Plants are very capable biochemical factories and when developed to produce beneficial molecules they provide a cost-effective production and delivery system. Biofortification, making plants more nutritious, is a highly sustainable, cost-effective way to increase nutrient availability and promote global health. Biofortification provides a feasible means of reaching undernourished and economically challenged populations in both developed and developing nations. In terms of a public health intervention, economic studies across a range of nutrients have shown that the costs of biofortification would be only a fraction of supplementation costs. Biofortified foods could result in a significant reduction in disease events, which would translate to a substantial savings in health care costs and a reduction in the morbidity and mortality.
Plant Sensory Systems has combined its knowledge of biochemical pathways and expertise in the optimization of plant production to develop biofortified plants, that is, plants with increased levels of natural occurring compounds such as amino acids or vitamins. These molecules not only enhance the nutritional value of the plant but many also provide health benefits. Some of these compounds act as antioxidants, others promote cardiovascular health, prevent obesity or reduce hypertension, elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes-associated factors. These products can be used as dietary supplements or as a component of a health supplement and can be readily introduced into two rapidly growing markets: health/nutrition and the feed-supplement markets.
