Is there a relation between zinc in crops and human health?
Zinc is an essential trace element for animals and humans as well as plants. There are more than 300 enzymes involved in key metabolic processes in humans which contain zinc and therefore an adequate zinc intake is essential for normal healthy growth and reproduction. The International Zinc Nutrition Consultative Group (IZiNCG) has estimated that as much as one third of the world’s population is at risk from inadequate zinc intake. Many food products are derived directly from plants, including staples such as rice, wheat, maize and sorghum, but the zinc content of animal products is also affected by the soil – plant relationships of zinc since ruminants consume herbage and other animals such as pigs and poultry consume cereals. Zinc deficient plants generally have low tissue zinc concentrations and therefore, in addition to reduced crop yields, deficiencies of zinc in the field also reduce the nutritional value of the crop with regard to its contribution to the zinc content of the diet
