Strategies for enhancing phytonutrient content in plant-based foods

As for long applied in traditional medicine, plant foods can be reliable sources of therapeutic molecules—phytonutrients—that aid in the avoidance or cure of several diseases. With the modern requirements of healthier and more environmentally friendly plant-based diets, research interest in increasing these molecules in common foods is in the spotlight. This chapter focuses on the description and mode of action of phytonutrients, their application and the main food sources for them, both in human and animal nutrition. Also, an overview of methods to increase phytonutrient content in food, from conventional breeding to genetic modification, is given. Finally, a description of the main technologies, both low and high-throughput, currently utilised to put this in practise.