A most critical challenge to crop production is the attainment of enhanced productivities in farmer’s fields, especially in developing countries. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimated that 70% more food is needed to feed adequately the over nine billion people expected to inhabit planet earth by 2050 [1]. The task of meeting this target, which requires a 37% increase over the historical annual incremental rates [2], is clearly as daunting as the scope of the envisaged increases is unprecedented. The difficulties are compounded by the finite nature of arable lands and agricultural water resources. Indeed, in most parts of the world—including the critically food insecure regions of the developing world [3–6], these resources are either stagnant or are dwindling on accounts of additional demands for them by the demographic and economic pressures of urbanization and the competing needs for producing livestock feeds, bioenergy production and several other industries [1]. The effects of climate change and variations are also rendering significant areas of arable lands unsuitable for crop production [7–9]; this is a major driver for food insecurity.