a global research effort - the wheat initiative

Presentation of the Wheat Initiative and of its Strategic

Research Agenda

Wheat for the FutureHélène Lucas & Peter Langridge, June 3, 2015

Overview

1. Rationale, organisation and governance2. Activities and first achievements3. Development of a Strategic Research Agenda

1. Rationale, ORGANISATION AND GOVERNANCE

An international partnership for wheat improvement research

• A framework to identify synergies and facilitate collaborations for wheat improvement at the international level

• Created in 2011 following endorsement by G20 Agriculture Ministries to improve food security

• Vision: a vibrant global wheat research community sharing resources, capabilities, data and ideas to improve wheat land productivity, quality and sustainable production

• Mission: develop a global Strategic Research Agenda and support its implementation through coordinated actions, knowledge and resource sharing and efficient investment

Wheat Initiative Vision and Mission

16 countries, 9 private companies, 2 CGIAR Centres

All countries and companies welcome!

Facilitating delivery by leveraging synergies and collaborations

Expert Working Groups

Established

• Wheat Information System• Genetics and Genomics of

Durum Wheat • Wheat Breeding Methods

and Strategies • Wheat Phenotyping to

Support Wheat Improvement

• Wheat Plant and Crop Modelling

Newly approved• Control of wheat pathogens

and pests• Adaptation of wheat to abiotic

stress• Genetic resources• Nutrient use efficiency• Quality and safety

Under development • Agronomy

The Wheat Initiative is• A science-led initiative• A way to bridge national and

international programmes• A mechanism for the wheat

community to identify gaps, and to define and update research priorities

• An information platform for institutions to establish investment priorities

• An opportunity for public & private funders to support international programmes

• Self-funded through members

The Wheat Initiative is• Not a research programme• Not competing with existing

national or international initiatives • Not a funding entity

The Wheat Initiative in summary

Raising the profile of wheat and working together to add value for all

FarmersIndustry

Consumers

FarmersIndustry

Consumers

International consortia

National research programs

WHEAT CRP

Research programmes

NARS

Extension Services

delivering

Delivery of research outcomes

Research providers

ARIs

NARS

Universities

Etc.Etc.

CGIAR

National funding agencies

International funding agencies

Foundations

Aid agencies

Funders

Private Sector

2. activities and first achievements

Increasing communications in the wheat community

• Website– New website launched March

2015• Newsletter– Quarterly newsletter (update on

Governance, Activities and more)• Media Brief– RSS feed on new website

• Wheat research database– To be developed in 2015

Facilitating access to wheat scientific data

Wheat Information System (http://wheatis.org/)

• Bioinformatics experts from 7 countries & CIMMYT working together to develop the WheatIS

Supporting the completion of the reference wheat genome sequence• Additional funds raised in several member

countries and companies through joint efforts

Raising the awareness of the importance of yield increase

• Launch of the International Wheat Yield Partnership (IWYP) in 2014

• 2 calls for proposals in 2015

Additional actions planned for 2015-2016

• Delivery of a Strategic Research Agenda• Setting up coordination/transnational funding

mechanisms• Launch 1-2 additional major international

research programmes on priority topics by the end of 2016

• Coordination program in wheat education and training

3 Development of a Strategic Research agenda

From an international vision…

… to a Strategic Research Agenda

1- Increase wheat yield potential1- Increase wheat yield potential

2- Protect yield• Controlling wheat diseases and pests• Improving wheat tolerance to abiotic stress

2- Protect yield• Controlling wheat diseases and pests• Improving wheat tolerance to abiotic stress

3- Protect the environment and increase the sustainability of wheat production systems

• Nutrient use efficiency• Agronomy and crop management

3- Protect the environment and increase the sustainability of wheat production systems

• Nutrient use efficiency• Agronomy and crop management

4- Ensuring the supply of high quality, safe wheat products4- Ensuring the supply of high quality, safe wheat products

BGRIBGRI

IWYPIWYP

IWGSCIWGSC

WHEAT CRP

WHEAT CRP

Game changers Fully assembled wheat genome

sequence Open access to international

data on wheat New breeding technologies Any many more

The Challenges Increasing wheat yield potential Protecting wheat from yield losses due to

pests and disease Maintaining yield under highly variable

environmental conditions Nutrient use efficiency Close the farm yield gap and adapt to new

production systems and regulations Produce safe and nutritious wheat with

adequate end-use quality in an unstable climate

The Challenges Building the resources and

capabilities to support cutting-edge research, breeding and agronomy in wheat

Exchanging knowledge between wheat researchers globally and building capacity

Aspirations Yield potential up by 50% in 2040 Durable resistance to most major

pests and diseases Adapted to diverse environmental

conditions Increased nutrient use efficiency –

N use to over 60% Highly stable production systems

that deliver attainable yield goals and quality

Safe, nutritious and healthy wheat grains

Aspirations Wheat the preferred research target through freely

available technology, germplasm and resources

A well-connected public-private community of wheat researchers sharing knowledge and information throughout the world

A broad understanding of wheat in addressing the challenges of facing global wheat production

Research Needs

Priorities

Actions

SRA delivery calendar Draft prepared by SB, RC and EWGs in 2014 Broad consultation (January-April 2015)

Country members: Organised by ICC members, all wheat stakeholders consulted

Private members Consulted through their RC representatives

Others Consultation via Wheat Initiative website

Revision of the SRA (May 2015) Launch

Presentation at EXPO 2015 (Milan) June 3rd

Official launch at G20-MACS, July (Turkey)

Many challenges but many solutions

Challenges?

www.wheatinitiative.org

Contact: wheat.initiative@versailles.inra.fr