A tiny mineral may hold the secret to feeding billions sustainably

Selenium, a tiny mineral applied at nanoscale to rice plants, could transform global agriculture by decreasing fertilizer needs while maintaining yields and reducing environmental damage. When sprayed directly onto rice plants, selenium stimulates photosynthesis by 40%, creates healthier roots, and improves nitrogen use efficiency from 30% to 48.3%, allowing farmers to reduce fertilizer use by 30%. This breakthrough could help feed billions sustainably by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing rice nutrition while addressing agriculture's economic and environmental challenges.