Led by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the CGIAR Research Program on Wheat (WHEAT) builds on the input, strength, and collaboration of public and private sector partners to catalyze and head an emergent, highly-distributed, virtual global wheat innovation network that will improve productivity and food security in wheat-based cropping areas of the developing world. It couples discovery science in advanced research institutes with national research and extension programs serving the poor in developing countries.
The strategy includes impact-focused research and development for technology targeting, sustainable wheat-based cropping systems, nutrient- and water-use efficiency, productive wheat varieties, durable resistance and management of wheat diseases and pests, enhanced heat and drought tolerance, cutting-edge research to break the wheat yield barrier, more and better seed to farmers, comprehensive use of the native diversity of wheat and its wild relatives, and capacity building.
WHEAT will be implemented with more than 200 partners from:
- The CGIAR Consortium: CIMMYT, ICARDA, Bioversity International, ICRISAT, IFPRI, ILRI, IRRI and IWMI.
- The Genomics and Integrated Breeding Service (GIBS), and the Generation Challenge Programme.
- National agricultural research institutes.
- Regional and international organizations.
- Universities and advanced research institutes.
- Private sector organizations.
- Non-governmental organizations and farmer cooperatives.
