CGIAR Research Program on Wheat (WHEAT)
Joining advanced science with field-level research and extension in lower- and middle-income countries, the CGIAR Research Program on Wheat (WHEAT) works with public and private organizations worldwide to raise the productivity, production and affordable availability of wheat for 2.5 billion resource-poor producers and consumers who depend on the crop as a staple food.
WHEAT is led by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) as a primary research partner.
Funding for WHEAT comes from CGIAR and national governments, foundations, development banks and other public and private agencies, in particular the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Multi-trait genomic-enabled prediction enhances accuracy in multi-year wheat breeding trials
Innovations
Researchers found that prediction performance was highest using a multi-trait model.
The science behind the perfect bread and pasta flour
Nutrition, health and food security
Every year, thousands of wheat lines are analyzed in detail in the CIMMYT Wheat Quality laboratory to determine the nutritional, processing and end-use quality of the grain.
Nitrogen-efficient wheats can provide more food with fewer greenhouse gas emissions, new study shows
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Scientists used a wild grass trait that inhibits soil microbes from producing environmentally-harmful nitrogen compounds. Widespread use of the new technology could lower global use of fertilizers for wheat crops.
CRP Wheat Annual Report 2020
Innovations
WHEAT supported the release of 63 CGIAR-derived high-yielding and climate-resilient wheat varieties in 2020, boosting farmer resilience and income throughout the wheat-growing world.
Capturing a clearer picture
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Researchers, extension services, partners and policymakers can better support feminization of agriculture processes in the Indo-Gangetic Plains through improved research and recommendations.
Adult plant resistance (APR): the strategy to beat persistent pathogens
Environmental health and biodiversity
CIMMYT’s decision to focus on APR genes versus race-specific genes (R-genes) protects the livelihoods of millions of smallholder wheat farmers throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Breaking Ground: Fatima Camarillo invests in education
Capacity development
Educator and researcher trains partners from around the world in CIMMYT’s unique wheat improvement course.
A challenge solved
Environmental health and biodiversity
Massive study of breeding lines across environments pinpoints genomic regions associated with yield potential and stress-resilience in bread wheat.
Can we create a climate-resistant coffee in time?
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: The Guardian (27 Apr 2021)
Matthew Reynolds talked to The Guardian’s Science Weekly podcast about the process of creating climate- and heat-resistant crops.
New zinc-fortified wheat set for global expansion to combat malnutrition
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Reuters (15 Apr 2021)
Scientists at CIMMYT expect to sharply ramp up new wheat varieties enriched with zinc that can boost the essential mineral for millions of poor people with deficient diets.
CIMMYT to dedicate historic wheat experimental station to Sanjaya Rajaram
Nutrition, health and food security
Agricultural experimental station in Toluca will be renamed to honor distinguished scientist.
A knowledge revolution
Innovations
CIMMYT researchers present new knowledge management framework for agri-food innovation systems.
Five big steps toward wheat self-sufficiency in Pakistan
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Pakistan’s goal to achieve self-sufficiency in wheat production just became more attainable with the release of five new wheat varieties.
First complete cytological characterization of the 2NvS translocation
Innovations
Study validates importance and uncovers new benefits of crucial wheat genome segment.
Remembering the life and legacy of Sanjaya Rajaram
Nutrition, health and food security
Former CIMMYT Wheat Program director and distinguished scientist made remarkable contributions to wheat improvement worldwide.
