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).
Two approaches better than one: identifying spot blotch resistance in wheat varieties
Environmental health and biodiversity
Genomic selection is a promising tool to select for spot blotch resistance and index-based selection to select for spot blotch resistance, heading and plant height.
CIMMYT scientists identify novel genomic regions associated with spot blotch resistance
Environmental health and biodiversity
Researchers use genome-wide association mapping approach to identify new regions with resistance to the disease.
New publications: Caste-gender intersectionalities in wheat-growing communities in Madhya Pradesh, India
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Study reveals gaps and interactions between caste, gender and agricultural decision-making.
BNI-enhanced wheat research wins 2021 Cozzarelli Prize
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Study describing development of wheat with biological nitrogen inhibition ability from wild relative receives award for outstanding papers published in PNAS.
CRP Wheat Annual Report 2021
Innovations
The legacy of this international collaboration in wheat research sealed in the program’s final report.
New publications: Genome-wide breeding to curtail wheat blast
Environmental health and biodiversity
Researchers evaluate the use of genomic selection in wheat breeding against deadly fungal disease.
How interactions among hidden enemies and drought effects grain yield and disease severity in bread wheat
Environmental health and biodiversity
CIMMYT scientists in Turkey investigated the effect of soil borne diseases individually and in combination with drought on morphological and physiological traits in wheat germplasm.
Climate change slows wheat breeding progress for yield and wide adaptation, new study finds
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Increasingly unpredictable weather poses challenges for breeding widely-adapted wheat lines, but stress tolerance breeding is boosting wheat’s hardiness under rising temperatures.
A decade of world-leading maize and wheat research
Capacity development
Legacy websites and photo exhibition mark the closing of the CGIAR Research Programs on Maize and Wheat, and their impact on sustainable agricultural development.
From diagnosis to action on social equity
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Building on impact of GENNOVATE, scientists recommend integrating gender-transformative research and methodologies into the new CGIAR Initiatives.
Less water for better crops
Innovations
Researchers explore how coupling automation with drip irrigation can enhance water use efficiency and productivity, especially in South Asia’s cereal-based systems.
CIMMYT, AGG wheat experts share latest discoveries at BGRI Technical Workshop
Climate adaptation and mitigation
CIMMYT scientists recently joined peers in the international wheat research community to share latest findings, offer updates, and raise compelling questions at the 2021 Borlaug Global Rust Initiative Technical Workshop.
Ravi Singh earns Lifetime Achievement award from BGRI
Environmental health and biodiversity
Renowned CIMMYT plant breeder recognized for elite wheat varieties that reduced the risk of a global pandemic and now feed hundreds of millions of people around the world.
Scientists bridge theory and practice to boost climate resilience in wheat
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Review proposes ways to accelerate climate resilience of staple crops, by integrating proven breeding methods with cutting-edge technologies.
Taming wheat blast
Environmental health and biodiversity
Researchers point out the future of the disease, the ways to manage it and prevent it from spreading — within and across continents.