Microgreens: Tiny nutri-dense superfoods
Keywords:
Microgreens, Urban Horticulture, Nutritional Security, Soilless Cultivation, Sustainable HorticultureAbstract
Microgreens are young, edible seedlings of vegetables, herbs and selected cereal crops harvested shortly after the development of their cotyledons and the emergence of the first true leaves. In recent years, they have gained considerable attention because of their attractive appearance, distinctive flavours, potential nutritional benefits and suitability for urban and indoor cultivation. Microgreens can be produced in small spaces using trays, growing media and relatively simple irrigation systems, making them an attractive option for urban households, commercial growers, entrepreneurs and institutional research programmes. Their short production cycle and potential for year-round cultivation offer opportunities for fresh food production with limited land requirements.
References
Partap, M., Sharma, D., Deekshith, H. N., Thakur, M., Verma, V., Ujala, & Bhargava, B. (2023). Microgreen: A tiny plant with superfood potential. Journal of Functional Foods, 107, Article 105697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2023.105697
Teng, Z., Luo, Y., Pearlstein, D. J., Wheeler, R. M., Johnson, C. M., Wang, Q., & Fonseca, J. M. (2023). Microgreens for home, commercial, and space farming: A comprehensive update of the most recent developments. Annual Review of Food Science and Technology, 14, 539–562. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-food-060721-024636
Xavier, I. B., Tavares, J. de L., Pontes, E. D. S., Magnani, M., & Alvarenga, V. O. (2025). Understanding food safety on sprouts and microgreens: Contamination routes, outbreaks and challenges. Food Research International, 214, Article 116589. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2025.116589
Xiao, Z., Lester, G. E., Luo, Y., & Wang, Q. (2012). Assessment of vitamin and carotenoid concentrations of emerging food products: Edible microgreens. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 60(31), 7644–7651. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf300459b
Xiao, Z., Lester, G. E., Luo, Y., Xie, Z., Yu, L., & Wang, Q. (2014). Effect of light exposure on sensorial quality, concentrations of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of radish microgreens during low temperature storage. Food Chemistry, 151, 472–479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.11.086
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 NEEHARIKA KANTH, Kundan Kishore
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
