Scaling biofortified zinc wheat through policy reform and partnerships in Punjab, Pakistan
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International Food Policy Research Institute
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Between 2019 and 2023, Pakistan’s Zinc Wheat (ZnW) initiative achieved rapid scaling from pilot to national level through coordinated policy reform, institutional investment, and private-sector engagement. Initially constrained by weak seed systems, limited farmer awareness, and fragmented policy implementation, the enabling environment for zinc wheat transformed through reforms in seed certification, public investment in early generation seed (EGS), and targeted digital advisories for farmers. Punjab province, accounting for most of Pakistan’s wheat area, became the central hub for scaling. This was facilitated through the joint efforts of the Punjab Agriculture Department, Ayub Agriculture Research Institute, HarvestPlus, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and private seed companies, which resulted in the area planted with zinc wheat expanding from 64,000 to over 3.1 million hectares, reaching 3.3 million farming households and more than 20 million consumers. This case illustrates how coordinated institutional, policy, and market interventions can translate research innovation into widespread impact, improving both agricultural productivity and population nutrition.
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wheat, biofortification, zinc, reforms, policies