Pakistan grows “iron” and “zinc” wheat for the nation’s health

reported. The minister paid tribute to the historic role of Dr. Norman Borlaug and Pakistani scientists in leading the Green Revolution of the 1960s. He recalled that Pakistan was among the first countries to benefit from improved semi-dwarf wheat germplasm developed at CIMMYT’s Mexico center, which helped overcome food shortages and laid the foundation for long-term food security. Pakistan recognized Dr. Borlaug’s contribution by awarding him the “Sitara-i-Imtiaz” (Star of Excellence) in 1968, two years before he received the Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Sajid highlighted CIMMYT’s decades-long contribution to Pakistani agriculture, noting that in just the past decade (2015–2025), around 70 improved wheat varieties were developed in the country, 90% of them based on advanced CIMMYT germplasm. Today, nearly 90% of the wheat grown on 9 million hectares in Pakistan—feeding over 250 million people—originates from CIMMYT innovations. These varieties combine high yield potential, disease ...