Deficiencies in iron and zinc are the most pervasive forms of malnutrition. DA-PhilRice, in partnership with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), is leading the work on High Iron and Zinc Rice (HIZR) as a novel, food-based approach to complement current interventions that aim to alleviate iron and zinc deficiencies.
Iron and zinc deficiencies
Iron and zinc are among the essential micronutrients needed for growth and development. Iron and zinc deficiencies are the most pervasive forms of malnutrition worldwide and are key causes of anemia and stunting. The 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report underscores the continuing global burden of malnutrition, with widespread stunting, rising anemia among women, and hundreds of millions projected to remain chronically undernourished by 2030.
Iron deficiency can affect productivity and cause serious health consequences, including impaired mental development and learning capacity, increased weakness and fatigue, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Similarly, zinc deficiency is a major cause of stunting among children, putting them at risk of compromised cognitive development and physical capability, and a weak immune system.
In the Philippines, data from the 2023 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) show that iron and zinc deficiencies continue to be a public health issue across all age groups, with iron as the micronutrient with the lowest supply in the typical Filipino diet. Anemia affects 2 in every 10 (21.8%) pregnant women and 2 in every 10 (17.2%) adults. Meanwhile, stunting continues to affect 2 in every 10 (23.6%) children under five years old.
Updates on the development of HIZR in the Philippines
In the Philippines, Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) is leading the development and advancement of High Iron and Zinc Rice (HIZR) as a novel, food-based approach to complement existing interventions addressing iron and zinc deficiencies. This work is being carried out in close collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), HarvestPlus, and other research partners.
Through the use of genetic engineering techniques, HIZR was created by enhancing a rice gene and incorporating an apple gene into the rice genome to improve its micronutrient content.
HIZR contains significantly higher levels of iron and zinc in the grain compared with ordinary rice, which typically contains only about 12-16 ppm of zinc 2–3 ppm of iron. Despite the relatively low micronutrient levels found in ordinary rice, it remains the primary source of iron among Filipinos because of the large quantities consumed daily. HIZR contains approximately 35 ppm of zinc and 10 ppm of iron. This substantial increase in micronutrient content highlights its potential to contribute to improved dietary intake among populations heavily dependent on rice as a staple food.
DA-PhilRice and IRRI conducted confined testing for two HIZR events, IRS-1030-031 and IRS-1030-039, in June 2020. Results from these tests demonstrated both the crop’s enhanced iron and zinc content and its desirable agronomic performance. The successful completion of confined testing advanced the project toward the next stage of the regulatory process.
In May 2022, DA-PhilRice submitted an application to the DA-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) and subsequently conducted the HIZR field trial for the above-mentioned events. The field trial was carried out to select the final HIZR event and generate the required environmental and compositional analysis data for succeeding regulatory applications.
On October 2025, DA-PhilRice submitted to the DA-BPI the technical dossier for the HIZR commercial propagation application as well as for the direct use as food, feed, or for processing. On April 27, 2026, HIZR rice was granted a biosafety permit for commercial propagation, marking a significant milestone in the development and regulatory approval of biofortified rice in the Philippines.
For more information on the HIZR project, please visit our FAQ page.
(June 16, 2026)
