Celebrating 100 years of Dr. Norman Borlaug Ciudad Obregón, March 25-28, 2014

Hélène Lucas (International Scientific Coordinator)

A global research

coordination platform for wheat improvement

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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

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Vision and Mission

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Facilitating delivery by leveraging synergies and collaborations

Expert Working Groups

Established

• Wheat Information System

• International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium

• 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

Under development

• Genetic resources

• Quality

• Nutrient use efficiency

• Agronomy

Initial outcomes of the Wheat Initiative EWGs

Wheat Information System

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Wheat Genome Sequence

Bioinformatics experts from 7 countries & CIMMYT working together

to develop the WheatIS

IWGSC-ICC taskforce created to raise funds

From an international vision…

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• Increase yield potential • Protect yield • Protect the environment and increase

sustainability of wheat production systems

• Improve quality and safety • Deliver / share methods, resources

and capabilities • Promote and support knowledge

exchange, education and capacity building

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… to a Strategic Research Agenda

Components

WH

EAT

CR

P

IWYP

BGRI

IWGSC

Global alliance for wheat research

targeted at developing countries

Executes prioritised

activities along 5 flagship projects

Funded by

philantropic, aid, private and public

organisations

Expert Working Groups

Knowledge

sharing

Capacity building

Contribution of research programs to the Wheat Initiative

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATED PROGRAMMES

Facilitates coordination of wheat research, information and knowledge sharing Enables and supports formation of international Expert Working Groups on priority topics /addressing gaps Advocates for wheat and programme funding from wheat stakeholders Does not execute research projects

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

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

Farmers Industry

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

15 countries, 9 private companies, 2 international organisations

All countries and companies welcome!

www.wheatinitiative.org

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Contact: wheat.initiative@versailles.inra.fr