Bangladesh develops best hi-zinc rice yet

Published Feb 11, 2021

Tridge summary

A new variety of zinc-rich rice, BRRI dhan100, with a higher zinc content and yield potential, has been approved for cultivation in Bangladesh by the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI). This release coincides with the celebration of Bangabandhu's centenary and is expected to combat zinc deficiency, particularly in South Asia where 29% of the population is at risk. This variety, along with five other zinc-rich rice varieties developed since 2013, is expected to help address the nutritional gap through rice, which is the staple food in Bangladesh. These biofortified crops are being developed and tested in various countries, with over 50 million smallholder farming families benefiting from them in 41 countries.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

This couldn’t be better timed. Breeders in Bangladesh have just released the most promising zinc-rich rice line yet. The new variety – enriched with high zinc content and high yield potential – got regulatory approval on Tuesday and reach to farmers for cultivation in the next Boro season, scientists at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) told Dhaka Tribune. The release of – BRRI dhan100 – coincides with Bangabandhu’s birth centenary celebration year and is expected to come in handy in the fight against zinc-deficiency during the time of Covid-19. Zinc is essential to good health and immunocompetence. Its deficiency is generally associated with a negative impact on overall health, increased susceptibility to disease, and infections. Around 29% of South Asia’s population, including that of Bangladesh, are at risk of inadequate zinc intake, according to Harvest Plus, a program based at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) that helped BRRI scientists develop ...

Source: DhakaTribune