Dr. Balwinder Kumar, Deputy Director (Training) Krishi Vigyan Kendra, 
Tarn Taran operational under Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, attended 5th International Zinc Symposium, “Improving Crop Production and Human Health,” at The Irish College, Katholieke University of Leuven (KU), Leuven, Belgium. In this symposium, Dr. Kumar had presented his research work on “Bio fortification of wheat grain with zinc by foliar zinc fertilization: Farmer’s Perspective. The research was carried out at farmer fields in Tarn Taran district as Front Line Demonstration in which input fertilizer was provided to the farmers and was guided to spray on wheat at heading stage. The work was collaborative in nature involving scientists from Punjab Agricultural University and ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI) Zone-1 Ludhiana. Based on the research quality and importance, the organizers of the event had sponsored the visit of Dr. Kumar.
Around 150 participants from 30 different countries across the globe attended the symposium and discussed about important aspects related to Zinc nutrition in plants, human and livestock. The 
programme featured a range of keynote addresses covering fertilizer zinc, crop bio fortification and social aspects; Zinc in soil and environment; Plant physiology, genetics and molecular biology and Zinc in animal and human nutrition. Dr Kumar said that diet lacking in Zinc is detrimental to humans and livestock health. Addressing the issues pertaining to Zinc nutrition in grain crops particularly wheat will meet the requirement of Zn for human, besides the straw which is left after grain threshing also get boosted with Zn which livestock relish and their Zn requirement also met in some way. The research involving farmers and presentation at the symposium held in Belgium was appreciated by the scientific community and was a unique chance to interact with researchers and academician working in this area.
