Presentation delivered by Dr. Helene Lucas (Wheat Initiative, France) at Borlaug Summit on Wheat for Food Security. March 25 - 28, 2014, Ciudad Obregon, Mexico. http://www.borlaug100.org

1. 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

2. 08/04/2014, Borlaug 100, # 2
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

3. • 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. From an international vision…
08/04/2014, Borlaug 100, # 7

8. • 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
WHEATCRP
IWYP
BGRI
IWGSC

9. 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

10. 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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11. 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
Universitie
s
Etc.
Etc.
CGIAR
National
funding
agencies
International
funding
agencies
Foundations
Aid
agencies
Funders
Private
Sector

12. 15 countries, 9 private companies, 2 international organisations
All countries and companies
welcome!

13. www.wheatinitiative.org
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Contact:
wheat.initiative@versailles.inra.fr