Sustainability Assessment of High-Value Vegetable Crops Using Biopriming Approach Towards Improved Performance, Nutritional Security, and Smallholder Farmers

Abstract

In order to meet the changing global economy and nutritional demand of the world, high-value vegetable crops can be extremely important for enhancing living standard of marginal farmers, as well as their consumption of high-quality foods and the continuity of the food supply chain and nations’ economy. With a major share under smallholder across different agroecologies, it is imperative to come up with a low-cost climate smart technology to address the vulnerable agroeco matrix. Reduced soil fertility, decreased crop productivity, and ecosystem impairment are the result of the conventional cropping systems with larger carbon footprint and lower net return complicated the issue. Most of the high-value vegetable crops are energy-intensive crop, making it a difficult option for inclusion in sustainable agriculture for smallholder farmers. Before advocating sustainability, techniques must comply with low carbon and water footprint requirement. Additionally, to lessen the reliance on synthetic agrochemicals and energy-intensive methods to feed a growing population, acceptance, adaptability, and adoption of seed biopriming among smallholder farmers are crucial. This review deals with biopriming as a potential supplementing the existing integrated plant nutrition system that could enhance plant growth and reduce abiotic stresses while increasing production and food quality with little additional energy use. In order to boost their revenue and contribute to the UNSDGs, smallholder farmers should be advocated to employ this feasible option which mimic nature. © The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedad Chilena de la Ciencia del Suelo 2024.