Zinc is a critical micronutrient essential for various life functions, including metabolic pathways, gene expression, hormone function, and immune defense. Zinc deficiency is a common form of micronutrient malnutrition, affecting 17% of the global population, with higher prevalence in Asia and Africa. The manifestations of zinc deficiency vary by age and duration, but it significantly impacts child growth, cognitive development, and adult reproductive health. Zinc also plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism and is linked to an increased risk of diabetes and cardiometabolic disorders. However, the lack of sensitive and specific biomarkers for assessing zinc status hinders progress in preventing and controlling zinc deficiency. This review highlights recent advancements in understanding zinc's role in health, the impact of climate change on zinc intake, and novel biomarkers for monitoring population-level interventions. It emphasizes the need for context-specific strategies, including supplementation, food fortification, and agricultural solutions such as biofortification, to improve zinc intake and address zinc deficiency. The review underscores the importance of enhancing dietary zinc content and bioavailability through zinc biofortification, which can benefit vulnerable populations affected by inadequate diets. The burden of zinc deficiency is significant, contributing to the triple burden of malnutrition—undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight/obesity/diet-related noncommunicable diseases. The changing global context, including climate change and socio-economic factors, affects dietary zinc intake. Novel biomarkers, such as essential fatty acid desaturation and DNA damage, show promise for monitoring zinc status and the efficacy of interventions. Effective interventions to increase zinc intake include supplementation, large-scale food fortification, and biofortification. Supplementation can be targeted for specific populations at high risk, while large-scale fortification can reach a broader population through staple foods and condiments. Biofortification, particularly through conventional breeding and agronomic methods, can enhance zinc content and bioavailability in crops consumed by rural communities. The review calls for bold policy decisions and global concerted action to implement evidence-based interventions to prevent and control zinc deficiency across the life course, emphasizing the importance of context-specific solutions and the integration of complementary strategies.Zinc is a critical micronutrient essential for various life functions, including metabolic pathways, gene expression, hormone function, and immune defense. Zinc deficiency is a common form of micronutrient malnutrition, affecting 17% of the global population, with higher prevalence in Asia and Africa. The manifestations of zinc deficiency vary by age and duration, but it significantly impacts child growth, cognitive development, and adult reproductive health. Zinc also plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism and is linked to an increased risk of diabetes and cardiometabolic disorders. However, the lack of sensitive and specific biomarkers for assessing zinc status hinders progress in preventing and controlling zinc deficiency. This review highlights recent advancements in understanding zinc's role in health, the impact of climate change on zinc intake, and novel biomarkers for monitoring population-level interventions. It emphasizes the need for context-specific strategies, including supplementation, food fortification, and agricultural solutions such as biofortification, to improve zinc intake and address zinc deficiency. The review underscores the importance of enhancing dietary zinc content and bioavailability through zinc biofortification, which can benefit vulnerable populations affected by inadequate diets. The burden of zinc deficiency is significant, contributing to the triple burden of malnutrition—undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight/obesity/diet-related noncommunicable diseases. The changing global context, including climate change and socio-economic factors, affects dietary zinc intake. Novel biomarkers, such as essential fatty acid desaturation and DNA damage, show promise for monitoring zinc status and the efficacy of interventions. Effective interventions to increase zinc intake include supplementation, large-scale food fortification, and biofortification. Supplementation can be targeted for specific populations at high risk, while large-scale fortification can reach a broader population through staple foods and condiments. Biofortification, particularly through conventional breeding and agronomic methods, can enhance zinc content and bioavailability in crops consumed by rural communities. The review calls for bold policy decisions and global concerted action to implement evidence-based interventions to prevent and control zinc deficiency across the life course, emphasizing the importance of context-specific solutions and the integration of complementary strategies.