annual report - Wheat Initiative

ANNUAL REPORT

2014 JUNE 2015

www.wheatinitiative.org

THE WHEAT INITIATIVE

CONTENTS

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reated in 2011 following endorsement from the G20 Agriculture Ministries, the Wheat Initiative provides a framework to establish strategic research and organisation priorities for wheat research at the international level in both developed and developing countries.

Wheat Initiative Vision A vibrant global wheat research community sharing resources, capabilities, data and ideas to improve wheat land productivity, quality and sustainable production.

Wheat Initiative Mission Develop a global Strategic Research Agenda and support its implementation through coordinated actions, knowledge and resource sharing and efficient investment.

The Wheat Initiative is governed by the following principles: • Synergy through collaboration • Transparency • Sharing • Inclusivity • Engagement

© PRATT J.C. - INRA

Wheat Initiative values

FOREWORD FROM THE COMMITTEES’ CHAIRS

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FOREWORD FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COORDINATOR

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INCREASING THE WHEAT INITIATIVE PARTNERSHIPS

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STRENGHTHENING THE LINKS BETWEEN RESEARCHERS AND POLICY-MAKERS AROUND THE WHEAT INITIATIVE GOVERNING BODIES

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DEVELOPING EXPERT WORKING GROUPS TO FOSTER THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE GLOBAL WHEAT RESEARCH COMMUNITY

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REACHING OUT TO SET INTERNATIONAL WHEAT RESEARCH PRIORITIES

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INCREASING OUTREACH

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WHEAT INITIATIVE 2014 ACCOUNTS

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WHEAT RESEARCH SUCCESSES IN 2014: HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR PARTNERS

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2015: OUR COMMITMENT TO DELIVER SUCCESSES

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THE WHEAT INITIATIVE SECRETARIAT TEAM

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CONTACTS

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WHEAT INITIATIVE ANNUAL REPORT

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FOREWORD FROM THE COMMITTEES’ CHAIRS

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s Chairs of the Institutions’ Coordination Committee, Research Committee and the Scientific Board, we are pleased to work with the Members to help guide the continued work of the Wheat Initiative to address the very challenging demands of global food security through supporting and coordinating international wheat research community. We take pride in providing the leadership to ensure that the Wheat Initiative, its activities and programmes make a difference and remain both relevant and strategic. During 2014, Members of the Wheat Initiative were instrumental in developing and launching the International Wheat Yield Partnership. We anticipate this be one of a variety of coordinated approaches to contribute to increasing the sustainable production of wheat through excellent research and development. The Wheat Initiative continued to strengthen its resources and structure so as to advance wheat research beyond the capacity of single research groups and countries We were delighted to welcome designated representatives of three new members, thereby extending our global reach to sixteen countries, two international organisations and 10 private companies. We have been pleased to mark a number of important progresses described within this report - which have helped deliver some of the Wheat Initiative’s objectives

and set out the roadmap for future achievements. In 2014, the Scientific Board and Research Committee defined the Wheat Initiative Strategic Research Agenda content in consultation with the existing and developing Expert Working Groups (EWGs). The SRA builds on the Vision Document issued in 2013, and will define policy-relevant wheat research priorities with the aim of providing a framework to public and private research organisations, funding agencies and policy makers to coordinate efforts through shared implementation plans. Our list of actions for 2015-2016 includes completion of a wide consultation on the Strategic Research Agenda, publication of the SRA and the development of its implementation plan. We will increase our presence at international congresses and events as we have done for the Borlaug Summit on Wheat for Food Security in March 2014, and look forward to bring the Wheat Initiative to the 2015 Universal Exposition “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” and the 9th International Wheat Conference. One of our priorities will be to identify opportunities both for aligned national activities and to promote appropriate transnational funding and collaboration mechanisms to facilitate future cooperation between funding agencies and amongst the international wheat research community. We have taken these steps so that the Wheat Initiative can best voice and support the global wheat research and make a difference in providing

sustainable, safe, nutritious and affordable food for a growing population. Finally, we also wish to extend our sincere thanks to the many people throughout the international wheat community who are contributing to this important global effort.

PETER LANGRIDGE Scientific Board Chair

FRANK ORDON Research Committee Chair

STEVE VISSCHER Institutions’ Coordination Committee Chair


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FOREWORD FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COORDINATOR

In its third full year, the Wheat Initiative has

progressed from establishing its Vision & Mission to identifying and assessing key drivers of change, the role of different actors and groups within the global wheat community, and the potential for different approaches to catalyse change and increase wheat production, quality and sustainability globally. Wheat Initiative Members and EWGs achieved tremendous progress in 2014. Publically available resources were developed for the wheat research and breeding community such as the wheat genome survey sequence and the chromosome 3B reference sequence. A first prototype of a global Wheat Information System was developed. High throughput phenotyping tools were developed and are now accessible for wheat breeders. A better understanding of the physiological and genetic basis of important agronomic and quality-related traits was reached and a number of new varieties were released. Advances were also made in the field of crop and resources management.

for wheat research was launched in Germany for the first time, and public-private as well as transnational partnerships were developed or strengthened. I am proud that we are working at the nexus of research and policy development and, through our developing research agenda, adapting our goals to address some of today’s most pressing challenges such as food security, climate change and dwindling natural resources. I have no doubt that with continued engagement with policymakers, donors and other key decisionmakers, we can achieve, together with wheat scientists and practitioners, a measurable impact on the advancement of wheat for a sustainable food secure future.

© PAILLARD Gérard - INRA

HÉLÈNE LUCAS International Scientific Coordinator

In addition, investment on wheat research increased in several countries, a dedicated call


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INCREASING THE WHEAT INITIATIVE PARTERSHIPS

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ast year, membership of the Wheat Initiative covered most continents including Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Australia. In 2014, Hungary, Saaten Union and Arvalis joined the Wheat Initiative, which included 16 countries, 2 international research organisations and 10 private companies. In the coming years the Wheat Initiative will reach out to additional nations, particularly where wheat is a priority crop both for production and consumption.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

PRIVATE COMPANIES

IN 2014, HUNGARY, SAATEN UNION AND ARVALIS JOINED THE WHEAT INITIATIVE

Member countries having signed the Wheat Initiative Charter Member countries having only designated their representatives to the Wheat Initiative Committees


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STRENGHTHENING THE LINKS BETWEEN RESEARCHERS AND POLICY-MAKERS AROUND THE WHEAT INITIATIVE GOVERNING BODIES

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he global governance of the Wheat Initiative is organised around three major Committees, the Research Committee (RC), the Institutions’ Coordination Committee (ICC) and the Scientific Board (SB). Each of these Committees met several times in 2014 to consolidate the vision and mission of the Wheat Initiative and establish means for their implementation. Regular meetings between the three Committees’ Chairs and the International Scientific Coordinator led to a shared action plan and strengthened their understanding of the research needs at the international level.

ORGANISATION AND IMPACT PATHWAY OF THE WHEAT INITIATIVE

SCIENTIFIC BOARD

INSTITUTIONS’ COORDINATION COMMITTEE

COORDINATION OF RESEARCH

RESEARCH COMMITTEE

ALIGNMENT OF NATIONAL PROGRAMMES ASSOCIATED PROGRAMMES

EXPERT WORKING GROUPS


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Research Committee meetings and actions In 2014 the Research Committee (RC) met twice, in Ciudad Obregón (Mexico) on March 21 and in Paris (France) on October 1st. During its 3rd meeting (March 21 - Ciudad Obregón), the Research Committee: • Agreed on a framework for the Strategic Research Agenda SRA and discussed the content of each core theme in relation with on-going international research activities • Provided recommendations to consolidate guidelines for the establishment and management of Expert Working Groups and agreed to organise an EWG Jamboree to facilitate synergies between EWGs • Endorsed the creation of two new EWGs on the following topics: "Control of Wheat Pathogens and Pests" and ‘Adaptation of Wheat to Abiotic Stress" • Approved the action plan of the "WheatIS" and "Durum Wheat Genomics and Breeding" EWGs.

During its 4th meeting (October 1st – Paris), the Research Committee: • Discussed the organisation and content of the SRA sections as defined during the EWG Jamboree • Received an update on the activities of current EWGs and endorsed, after discussion, the creation of two new EWGs: "Global Wheat Germplasm Conservation and Use Community" and "Nutrient Use Efficiency in Wheat" • Approved the concept of "Associated Programmes to the Wheat Initiative" to link with international research programmes such as IWYP and the BGRI • Elected Hirokazu Handa from Japan and Gabriela Tranquilli from Argentina, to replace Stephen Baenziger (USA) and Catherine Feuillet (Bayer CropScience) in the Scientific Board, starting January 1st, 2015. The 4th RC meeting in Paris (France)

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The 3rd RC meeting in Cludad Obregón (Mexico)


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Institutions’ Coordination Committee meetings and actions The Institutions’ Coordination Committee (ICC) met twice in 2014, in Izmir (Turkey) on May 20 and in Frankfurt (Germany) on December 4. During its 4th ICC meeting (May 20 – Izmir), the Institutions’ Coordination Committee: • Received a presentation on the wheat research landscape in Turkey by the meeting host (GDAR) • Reviewed and advised on updates of the Wheat Initiative activities, including the communications strategy, the IWGSC-ICC taskforce, the development of EWGs, the SRA delivery timeline, as well as on the development of the International Wheat Yield Partnership • Endorsed a consolidated action plan (20142016), shared with the Research Committee and the Scientific Board

4th ICC meeting in Izmir (Turkey)

• Recommended to establish "Associated Programmes

to the Wheat Initiative" to help deliver and align Wheat Initiative activities through international funded research programmes • Together with the IWGSC, advocated funding the wheat genome reference sequence through ICC members attending the G20 Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists and stimulated additional national activity in several countries and Bayer to expedite progress towards a full reference genome sequence • Discussed existing transnational funding mechanisms and agreed to focus its attention and actions on resource mobilisation to support delivery of the planned Wheat Initiative Strategic Research Agenda. It also agreed on the utility of establishing a global partnership framework under the aegis of the Wheat Initiative to facilitate bilateral or international collaboration.

During its 5th ICC meeting (December 4 – Frankfurt), the Institutions’ Coordination Committee: • Received a presentation on the wheat research landscape in Germany and its current funding program dedicated to wheat by the meeting host (BMEL) • Reviewed and advised on updates of the development of the Wheat Initiative activities, including the communications strategy, the 4th RC meeting, the EWG Jamboree, the wheat reference genome sequence funding, as well as on the IWYP development • Approved the concept and proposal template for Associated Programmes to the Wheat Initiative • Agreed to organise national consultations on the SRA in each of the members’ countries • Decided to identify and develop new and existing mechanisms to support delivery of the Wheat Initiative priorities • Endorsed the 2015 Budget but recommended seeking additional funding mechanisms and memberships to avoid the Wheat Initiative having to restrain its ambitions • Agreed to open the Committee to private members of the Wheat Initiative.

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Scientific Board meetings and actions In 2014 the Scientific Board (SB) met in person three times, in Ciudad Obregón (Mexico) on March 22, in Paris (France) on July 7 and on October 2nd in addition to several videoconferences. The Chair (Peter Langridge) and Vice-Chair (Curtis Pozniak) of the SB were elected during the first meeting. During their meetings, the SB members discussed in depth the strategy to develop the different activities of the Wheat Initiative and how to implement it. The topics covered and actions undertaken included: • The development of the SRA • The development of EWGs and the establishment of their governance and management • The communications strategy • The establishment of a database for wheat research • The development of Associated Programmes • The Wheat Initiative budget • The organisation of meetings, such as the RC meetings and the EWG jamboree • The establishment of a shared action plan with the RC and ICC.

ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE SCIENTIFIC BOARD - 2014 Peter LANGRIDGE (Chair, ACPFG, Australia) Curtis POZNIAK (Vice-Chair, Uni. Saskatoon, Canada) Stephen BAENZIGER (Uni. Nebraska, USA) Hans BRAUN (CIMMYT) Catherine FEUILLET (Bayer CropScience) Graham MOORE (John Innes Center, UK) Indu SHARMA (ICAR, India) Chris TAPSELL (KWS UK Ltd)


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DEVELOPING EXPERT WORKING GROUPS TO FOSTER THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE GLOBAL WHEAT RESEARCH COMMUNITY

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he Wheat Initiative fosters the engagement of the global wheat research community through the creation of Expert Working Groups (EWGs), which bring together experts from various fields at international level on topics of relevance to the Wheat Initiative’s aims and objectives, and provide opportunities for exchanges and growth. Membership to the EWGs is open to nonmembers of the Wheat Initiative and participants are expected to actively contribute to the development and implementation of the Wheat Initiative Strategic Research Agenda. The action of Expert Working Groups extends to regular gap analyses, delivery of recommendations and position papers, stimulating and facilitating knowledge sharing within a scientific community and addressing particular challenges through research programmes.

The Wheat Initiative organises ad hoc gatherings as well as financially supports the organisation of EWG meetings to facilitate the participation and elicit the contribution of all members of each group. In 2014, 6 EWGs endorsed by the Research Committee initiated or developed their activities and were joined by 103 researchers from 34 countries. The Scientific Board and the Research Committee were delighted to approve in 2014 four proposals to set up new EWGs, which will develop their activities in 2015 and cover the following topics: • Adaptation of Wheat to Abiotic Stress (lead Australia/CIMMYT) • Control of Wheat Pests and Pathogens (lead Australia/USA) • Global Wheat Germplasm Conservation and Use Community (lead CGIAR/Global Crop Diversity Trust) • Nutrient Use Efficiency (lead UK/France).

6 GROUPS OF EXPERTS ADVANCING BREEDING, PHENOTYPING, GENETICS, GENOMICS, MODELING AND DATA SHARING


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of a vibrant public-private research community. The EWG Jamboree agenda can be found here. The EWG Jamboree allowed all participants to discuss key priorities and actions for wheat research at the international level on the short, medium and long-term. These priorities fed into the Wheat Initiative draft Strategic Research Agenda with strategies and programmes to address efficiently the challenge of global wheat production. The EWG Jamboree offered numerous opportunities for open and friendly discussions including, breakout sessions, plenaries and round tables. It promoted a shared understanding of the role of the Wheat Initiative and of its EWGs to bring together and support the international wheat research community. The wish expressed by the attendees to have EWG Jamborees organised regularly reflected the success of the gathering.

Participants to the EWG jamboree

A first EWG Jamboree facilitated cross-talk between research communities The Wheat Initiative organised its 1st Expert Working Group Jamboree on September 29-30, 2014, in Paris (France), inviting representatives of the Wheat Initiative ten on-going EWGs and the Research Committee.

During the two-day meeting, potential gamechangers for wheat improvement were discussed in depth, such as the availability of the wheat genome reference sequence, the accessibility of all wheat data through a dedicated Wheat Information System, and new breeding strategies based on predictive modelling, recombination control or targeted genome modification. Value-capture mechanisms were also identified as gamechangers for increased investment of the private sector into wheat research and the development

THE FIRST GATHERING OF ITS KIND, THE EWG JAMBOREE BROUGHT TOGETHER MORE THAN 50 EXPERTS FROM 11 COUNTRIES, REPRESENTING 29 PUBLIC RESEARCH ORGANISATIONS, 6 PRIVATE COMPANIES AND 3 INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS


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Established EWGs delivered their first outcomes The Expert Working Groups that were fully active in 2014 are presented here in descending order of establishment. Wheat Information System Chair: Hadi Quesneville (INRA, France) Vice-Chairs: Mario Caccamo (TGAC, UK), David Edwards (University of Queensland, Australia), Gerard Lazo (USDA-ARS, USA) Number of members: 18 Aims: The members of this EWG work together to define data standards and data exchange protocols, and to develop a framework to support an integrated Wheat Information System (access to wheat genetic, phenotype and environmental information, genomic data and bioinformatics tools). A central node, called WheatIS core, will provide a single entry point for the WheatIS users. The WheatIS core will be built upon the resources provided and shared by the nodes. It will provide access to data and information through a web portal. This portal will (1) give access to a data file repository storing files with their associated metadata; (2) allow to find data available in the WheatIS core and its nodes using keywords through a Google-like search engine and; (3) render available several dedicated integrative databases (e.g. for genomic, genetic, and phenotype information, comparative genomics,

and functional genomics). Analysis tools will also be available for download from the web portal. Some WheatIS nodes will provide computing resources for data analysis. Progress: In 2014, the WheatIS EWG met in person on January 13 in San Diego (USA) in addition to two videoconferences. The EWG group also contributed to the Wheat Data Interoperability Working Group from the Research Data Alliance during a meeting held on October 1-2 in Versailles (France). The EWG attained the following in 2014: • A draft cookbook recommending standards to use for wheat data sharing • A first prototype for a distributed search engine using faceting technologies, available for testing among the EWG partners • A first prototype for testing the data file submission process WheatIS core SEARCH

FILE REPOSITORY

INTEGRATED DB

WEB PORTAL

DISTRIBUTED STORAGE

INDEXES

DB

STORAGE

WheatIS node

INDEXES

DB

STORAGE

WheatIS node

INDEXES

DB

STORAGE

• The identification of 12 nodes for the WheatIS,

offering wheat data to the community and contributing to the WheatIS effort • The creation of the WheatIS portal, using the information from the identified WheatIS nodes • The submission of a proposal to the Horizon 2020 European Call to support the WheatIS development. International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium Leadership Team: Rudi Appels (Centre for Comparative Genomics, Murdoch University, Australia), Catherine Feuillet (Bayer CropScience, United States), Beat Keller (Institute of Plant Biology, University of Zurich, Switzerland), Kellye Eversole (IWGSC Executive Director and chair of the Board of Directors), Jane Rogers (IWGSC Deputy Executive Director) Coordinating Committee: 63 members from academia and industry, who develop the strategy and standards for the IWGSC projects Number of members: 1,100 in 55 countries Aims: Founded in 2005, the goal of the IWGSC is the delivery of a high quality genome sequence of bread wheat that serves as a foundation for the accelerated development of improved varieties and empowers all aspects of basic and applied wheat science. Completion of the high quality reference sequence has been identified as the highest priority for the Wheat Initiative.

WheatIS node

Overview of the WheatIS infrastructure


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The IWGSC strategy has three key milestones: (1) Clone-based physical maps that serve as a substrate for sequencing; (2) Survey sequences of the 21 bread wheat chromosomes; and (3) Reference sequences based on physical maps and anchored to genetic maps for each of the 21 bread wheat chromosomes. Progress: In 2014, the IWGSC: • Published the first analysis of the gene content of hexaploid bread wheat determined from the chromosome-based survey sequences of the 21 chromosomes, Science, 18 July 2014 • Completed the BAC libraries for the 21 chromosomes (work done by the Institute of Experimental Botany, Olomouc, Czech Republic) • Completed the physical mapping of all chromosomes with physical maps for 10.5 chromosomes now available from the IWGSC repository at URGI and others to become available in the near future • Completed and published the first reference sequence for a wheat chromosome: chromosome 3B, Science, 18 July 2014 • Finalised funding for BAC-based reference sequencing of 11 of the remaining 20 chromosomes • Transitioned the IWGSC into a US-based, nonprofit, scientific organization with a Board of Directors providing overall leadership. IWGSC leaders (leadership team, coordinating committee members, and project team members) presented their work at numerous conferences, workshops, seminars, and meetings. In addition,

IN 2014, THE IWGSC PUBLISHED THE SURVEY SEQUENCE OF ALL 21 WHEAT CHROMOSOMES AND THE REFERENCE SEQUENCE OF THE 3B CHROMOSOME the IWGSC held the following workshops and meetings in 2014: • 11 January 2014 - IWGSC scientific workshop at the Plant and Animal Genome (PAG) conference in San Diego, California (USA) • 11 January 2014 - IWGSC open business meeting at PAG • 13 January 2014 - IWGSC project leaders meeting • 14 January 2014 - IWGSC Standards and Protocols scientific workshop at PAG • 19 May 2014 - IWGSC scientific workshop at PAGAsia conference in Singapore • 29 June 2014 - IWGSC scientific workshop held in conjunction with the joint EUCARPIA Cereal Section & ITMI conference in Wernigerode (Germany) • 30 June 2014 - IWGSC open business meeting at EUCARPIA-ITMI conference. Durum Wheat Genomics and Breeding Chair: Roberto Tuberosa (DipSA, Italy), Luigi Cattivelli (CRA, Italy) Vice-Chairs: Jason Able (University of Adelaide, Australia), Karim Ammar (CIMMYT)

Number of members: 18 Aims: The aims of this EWG are to: • Synergise the research activities in durum wheat and identify research priorities in order to enhance the selection progress in durum wheat breeding • Enhance the level of interactions with the bread wheat community • Promote the development of molecular tools for the durum wheat community via (1) a new and more accurate consensus map for durum wheat genome and (2) sequencing of the durum genome • Provide breeders with markers suitable for highthroughput marker-assisted selection. Progress: In 2014 the EWG organised two faceto-face short meetings on January 16 in San Diego (USA) and on March 24 in Ciudad Obregón (Mexico), as well as two teleconferences. The EWG carried out a survey that identified genome sequencing, characterisation of germplasm and genomics-assisted breeding activities as the most relevant research priorities for the durum wheat community. Members of the EWG interacted with colleagues of the bread wheat community in order to assemble a SNP consensus map that was obtained using the 90K Illumina chip assembled by the bread wheat community (A high-density, SNP-based consensus map of tetraploid wheat as a bridge to integrate durum and bread wheat genomics and breeding. Maccaferi M. et al, 2014, Plant Biotechnol J.).


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Markers suitable for marker-assisted selection in breeding programs were identified through the mapping work carried out by a number of members of the EWG.

state-of-the-art breeding methods. Progress: The EWG organised its first meeting in Wernigerode (Germany) on July 2, during which the EWG proposal was discussed. It was decided to launch a survey to consult on the priorities for research in this area of research and to enlarge the membership of the EWG to better represent the global wheat breeding community.

A roadmap for sequencing of the durum genome was established. A special Issue on Durum Wheat Genomics and Breeding was assembled by R. Tuberosa and C. Pozniak. The issue collected 12 manuscripts and was published as December issue of Molecular Breeding.

Wheat Plant and Crop Modelling Chair: Senthold Asseng (University of Florida,USA) Vice-Chairs: Frank Ewert (University of Bonn, Germany), Pierre Martre (INRA, France), Scott Chapman (CSIRO, Australia) Number of members: 34

Wheat Breeding Methods and Strategies Co-Chairs: Alison Bentley (NIAB, UK) and Gilles Charmet (INRA, France) Secretariat: Ron de Pauw (AAFC, Canada) Number of members: 18

Aims: The EWG aims at: • Developing strategy papers and prioritising topics in the area of wheat plant and crop modeling • Establishing environmental characterisations (e.g temperature impact characterisation of global wheat) • Organising annual workshops • Training young wheat breeders and geneticists to add crop and plant modeling to their tool box.

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Aims: This EWG aims at building capacity and supporting research on improved breeding methods and international exchange of information and germplasm. Anticipated deliverables include more efficient wheat breeding programs that use advanced breeding methods and a larger pool of wheat breeders trained in

Progress: In 2014, the EWG organised two short meetings in conjunction with AgMIP Wheat workshops. A number of short, medium and long term actions were identified. The EWG developed a node structure and identified 5 node topics: (1) Climate change impact & upscaling; (2) Environmental characterization (GxExM)/ phenotyping support/

QTL & gene-based modeling; (3) Grain quality; (4) Pests and Diseases and; (5) Economics of wheat. The EWG also communicated to breeders and geneticists training courses on modelling (MACSUR, DSSAT). Wheat Phenotyping to Support Wheat Improvement Chair: Bettina Berger (University of Adelaide, Australia) Vice-chairs: Ulrich Schurr (FZJ, Germany), José Luis Araus (University of Barcelona, Spain) Number of members: 48 (Executive Committee: 15) Aims: This EWG aims at: • Strengthening and supporting wheat phenomics research • Promoting international collaborations and the development and exchange of expertise in wheat phenotyping • Enhancing the integration of wheat phenotyping into breeding and genomics programs • Engaging experts from non-plant disciplines in wheat phenotyping (e.g. computer vision, software engineering, database management). Progress: The EWG organised its first face-to-face meeting in Frankfurt (Germany) on December 5, with 29 participating members. A white paper outline was drafted during the Frankfurt meeting. A survey on phenotyping needs was undertaken in collaboration with IPPN/EPPN/COST and key milestones for the EWG were identified.


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New EWGs were established for other wheat research areas In 2014, four new EWGs were endorsed by the Research Committee.

Global Wheat Germplasm Conservation and Use Community EWG Proposers: A. Amri (ICARDA), P. Bramel (Global Crop Diversity Trust), T. Payne (CIMMYT)

insect pests is needed to encourage the sharing of information and coordination of efforts. These activities will lead to reductions in yield losses due to diseases and pests, and therefore contribute to the enhancement of global food security.

Aims: The EWG will serve to represent and engage the global wheat conservation and use community to insure that the two roles for crop communities in the global system are being met. One is to link the genebanks together to ensure a rational, cost effective system. The second is ensuring the system operates to meet the needs of the users. Specifically, the EWG will contribute to updating the global wheat conservation strategy including various use dimensions, provide global assessments, technical advice, and recommendations for the conservation and use of genetic resources of wheat and related species to individual genebanks, the Crop Trust, and other globally important holders of the crop collection as needed. It will reach out to the global user community through its representation as well as through targeted communications and information sharing.

Control of Wheat Pathogens and Pests Proposers: Evans Lagudah (CSIRO, Australia) and Justin Faris (USDA-ARS, USA)

Therefore, global coordination of efforts facilitated by this Wheat Initiative EWG is needed to develop management and gene stewardship deployment strategies. Whereas coordination of research on the three rust pathogens will build on the framework of the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative, the facilitation of networks and interactions among key labs conducting research on host-selective toxin-producing necrotrophic pathogens, Fusarium head blight, powdery mildew, wheat blast, pathogenic nematodes, virus diseases, and

© FOUCHARD Marc / SUFFERT Frédéric / CAVELIER Nadine - INRA

Aims: There are a plethora of diseases and pests that target wheat causing significant losses in yield and/or quality on a yearly basis making it imperative that wheat researchers are astute in the development of resistant varieties. Epidemics caused by some of these diseases and pests vary from local to regional zones and in a number of cases extend to wider international wheat growing zones. While sustained increases in wheat yields are needed to meet future demands, the remarkable ability of pathogens to mutate, produce novel toxins, or otherwise adapt to overcome resistance makes this goal a considerable challenge.


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Nutrient Use Efficiency Proposers: Malcolm Hawkesford (Rothamsted Research, UK), Jacques Le Gouis (INRA, France) Aims: Adequate and efficient nutrition and particularly, nitrogen availability are essentials, for optimal yield and quality of wheat crops. Moreover, some critical resources such as phosphorus and many other mineral nutrients (S, Zn, Fe) represent finite non-renewable resource, and very little is known about interactions. This newly established EWG will explore these issues in the context of wheat production systems, with a particular emphasis on genetic variation and genetic solutions for enhancing NUE. Key traits, including root structure and function will be defined and dissected. The EWG will gather together key experts focussed on critical questions relating to Nutrient Use Efficiency who will summarise current knowledge, publish positional papers, identify gaps and propose areas for future co-operation, seeking funding for such activities as appropriate, and finally report back to the Wheat Initiative.

farm practices. Integration of genetic and phenotypic data, together with the availability of unique populations adapted to specific environments will improve the understanding of traits and allow the creation of wheat varieties with improved performance under the most significant environmental stresses such as drought and heat. Several major international programs are already underway to address these challenges and there is a great opportunity to coordinate these efforts and build a global program targeted to enhancing yield under stress. This EWG will bring together the different programs and develop an international strategy to secure long term support, aiming to better coordinate or bring together national and international donors’ current and future investment in addressing the challenge of increasing abiotic stress for wheat.

Aims: Abiotic stresses such as high temperatures, high irradiance, scarcity of water and nutrient deficiencies are commonly encountered in environments where wheat is grown, but are not amenable to management through traditional

© HILLAIREAU Jean-Michel - INRA

Adaptation of Wheat to Abiotic Stress Proposers: Peter Langridge (University of Adelaide, Australia), Matthew Reynolds (CIMMYT)


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crop and second most important grain with regard to human nutrition and caloric intake, wheat is in increasing demand. In view of meeting the requirements of a growing human population in the coming decades, all wheat producing countries share an urgent need to increase the rate of genetic gains for yield, tolerance to abiotic stresses, resistance to pathogens and pests, as well as to improve input use efficiency for sustainable wheat production, while ensuring high quality, safe and nutritious food products. The Wheat Initiative Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) will provide a framework for public and private research organisations, funding agencies and policy makers to coordinate wheat improvement efforts through shared implementation plans. The SRA will build on the Wheat Initiative Vision Document. It will set out clear policy-relevant wheat research priorities for the short, medium and long term, and will list the strategic actions needed to address these priorities. The Wheat Initiative SRA will be regularly updated to take into account the constantly evolving science, and to reflect the needs of the wheat research community.

The Strategic Research Agenda at a glance

A draft Strategic Research Agenda was developed through an iterative process that lasted all along 2014 and involved around 200 people among the Wheat Initiative Committees and groups.

The draft Strategic Research Agenda recognises four thematic core themes and two cross-cutting themes. The thematic core-themes have been identified as (1) Increase wheat yield potential; (2) Protect yield potential; (3) Protect the environment and increase the sustainability of wheat production systems and; (4) Ensure the supply of high quality, safe wheat. The cross-cutting themes are: (1) Enabling technologies and shared resources and; (2) Knowledge exchange and education. The SRA additionally outlines game-changers that will allow the efficient delivery of improved wheat varieties adapted to target environments.

The Wheat Initiative Scientific Board and Research Committee defined the SRA core themes and their content. The Expert Working Groups of the Wheat Initiative were consulted on the key priorities, actions and timing for international wheat research during the EWG Jamboree. During this meeting, they also had the opportunity to outline the game-changers for wheat improvement in the years to come.

1 - INCREASE WHEAT YIELD POTENTIAL 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 4 - ENSURING THE SUPPLY OF HIGH QUALITY, SAFE WHEAT PRODUCTS

6 - KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AND EDUCATION

As the world’s most widely grown staple food

The Wheat Initiative developed its Strategic Research Agenda

5 - ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES AND SHARED RESOURCES

REACHING OUT TO SET INTERNATIONAL WHEAT RESEARCH PRIORITIES


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INCREASING OUTREACH The Wheat Initiative participated to the Borlaug Summit From 25 to 28 March the Wheat Initiative joined the Borlaug Summit on Wheat for Food Security in Ciudad Obregón, Mexico. The Summit was an excellent opportunity to share and promote the Wheat Initiative mission to the international wheat research and policy community present at the event. Click here to see Hélène Lucas presentation to the assembly on March 28, and here to see her interview to CIMMYT.

The Wheat Initiative launched its Newsletter INCREASING THE WHEAT INITIATIVE VISIBILITY BY TARGETING OPPORTUNITIES TO DELIVER KEY MESSAGES

The Newsletter will also be available for subscription and download on the new Wheat Initiative website and will occasionally include ad hoc information and references to articles on landmark achievements in wheat research.

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A quarterly newsletter was introduced at the end of 2014 with the aim of updating all Wheat Initiative members, and is intended to inform on the development of the Wheat Initiative structure, membership and activities. It includes short and concise information on the Wheat Initiative recent and upcoming meetings and activities, and provides links to the Wheat Initiative website where more detailed information and documentation is stored.

The Wheat Initiative at the Borlaug summit


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WHEAT INITIATIVE 2014 ACCOUNTS

The Wheat Initiative coordination activities rely

on the financial contributions of its members, which originate from annual membership fees and voluntary exceptional contributions. In 2014, INRA and BBSRC additionally contributed in-kind salaries (International Scientific Coordinator, administrative assistant, graphic designer, new website development support, Secretariat) and support to specific activities (operating costs of the Secretariat, website maintenance). By the end of 2014, 90% of budgeted incomes had been recovered. The small difference between the budgeted and actual incomes originated as CIMMYT’s was unable to contribute its planned exceptional support in 2013 and 2014. The budget for 2014 was underspent. This can be explained by: • A reduction of the personnel costs: (1) it was decided to sub-contract the development of the Wheat database (Wheat VIVO) to a company rather than recruiting an in-house staff and (2) INRA covered the costs of a part-time administrative assistant for 5 months as in-kind contribution to the Wheat Initiative • Fewer than expected EWG meetings: only 6 EWGs organised meetings in 2014 for a total cost of 54 851 €, of which 31 021 € to be paid for in 2015 • The delay in developing the new Wheat Initiative website, which will be launched and budgeted in 2015.

The operating costs of the Wheat Initiative (264 882€) were covered by the 2014 membership fees (264 667€). Outstanding membership fees for 2012 and 2013 were recovered in 2014 as well as 2014 exceptional contributions. The increased combined balance will be used in 2015 and following years to fund exceptional expenses such as the development of the new Wheat Initiative website and the Wheat VIVO database, as well as to maintain/expand the Wheat Initiative activities while attracting new memberships.

(1) 2,5 staff members (project manager, communications assistant, database) + 0,5 secretary (2) EWGs, Research Committee, Scientific Board, Institutions’ Coordination Committee, mapping meetings (3) New website development

INCOME 2014 BUDGET

TYPE

ACTUAL % RECEIVED

Membership fees 2012

10 000 €

10 000 €

100 %


50 000 €

50 000 €

100 %


265 000 €

264 667 €

100 %

50 000 €

77 %

415 000 € 374 667 €

90 %

EXPENDITURES 2014 BUDGET ACTUAL

% SPENT

Exceptional contributions 2013

25 000 €

Exceptional contributions 2014

65 000 €

TOTAL

TYPE Personnel (1)

150 000 €

92 750 €

62 %

Consumables

10 000 €

1 655 €

17 %

Equipment

10 000 €

4 368 €

44 %

Travel & subsistence

40 000 €

31 677 €

79 %

250 000 €

126 680 €

51 %

15 000 €

5 662 €

38 %

5 000 €

2 090 €

42 %

480 000 €

264 882 €

55 %

60 000 €

0€

0%

540 000 € 264 882 €

55 %

Organisation of Meetings (2) Communications Other costs Sub-total Operating costs Exceptional costs (3)

TOTAL BALANCE

BUDGET

ACTUAL

Balance 2012 carried forward

173 356 €

Balance 2013 carried forward

205 200 €

Balance 2014

- 125 000 €

TOTAL

540 000 € 488 341 €

109 785 €


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WHEAT RESEARCH SUCCESSES IN 2014: HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR PARTNERS Genome sequence, markers and mapping Argentina: CONICET and INTA, in collaboration with researchers of other countries and within the IWGSC framework, published new insight into the wheat chromosome 4D structure and virtual gene order. China: Association mapping for quality traits, yield, and disease resistance by 660 K SNP were funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and National Nature Science Foundation of China. France: INRA, CNRS and University of Evry scientists, published, together with other countries, the reference sequence of wheat chromosome 3B. It demonstrates the feasibility of the approach and strategy used, and paves the way to obtaining the reference genome sequence of all wheat chromosomes.

Italy: A tetraploid wheat specific consensus map was assembled from 13 T. durum, T. durum x T. dicoccum, T. durum x T. dicoccoides maps. The map includes 30,144 markers, with 26,626 gene-associated Illumina SNPs and 791 SSRs. UK: A UK consortium led by The Genome Analysis Centre in partnership with John Innes Centre, Rothamsted Research and the European Bioinformatics Institute has assembled the first draft of the hexaploid wheat genome published in collaboration with other countries. Cereals DB funded by BBSRC and created by the Functional Genomics Group at the University of Bristol provides a range of facilities for the study of the wheat genome. It is a publicly funded searchable database available on line. The site is aimed at those who wish to obtain information about SNP markers. US: Wheat D-genome specific markers were developed by USDA-ARS, UC, Davis, and University of Oregon to facilitate map-based cloning of important genes in genetic regions with low recombination rates. Bayer CropScience: In partnership with IWGSC, Keygene, University of Haifa, Bayer CropScience have completed high quality physical maps of chromosomes 2B, 4B, 5BL and 5DL. EUR 1M funding

was provided to the International Wheat Genome Consortium (IWGSC) for the completion of the bread wheat (cv Chinese Spring) physical maps.

Breeding strategies and methods including new varieties, germplasm development, hybrid wheat China: More than USD 15M were invested on hybrid wheat development by various organizations. A new variety, Zhongmai 996, developed through MAS, was officially released in China. France: The INRA-coordinated WHEALBI FP7 EU project was launched (5 years, EUR 5M support, 18 partners from 9 countries). WHEALBI aims at strengthening bread wheat and barley production in Europe by enabling the development of new, productive varieties adapted to cropping systems that require lower inputs and which are health and environment friendly. Hungary: A highly effective method for wheat anther culture and double haploids production was developed, which was also adapted to Triticale genotypes.


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University of Nebraska, USDA-ARS researchers participated in the development and registration of five new wheat cultivars for the US Great Plains (cultivars "Antero", "Clara", "Cowboy", soil-borne resistant "Freeman", and amylose-free "Mattern"). CGIAR WHEAT Program led by CIMMYT: WHEAT developed lines with adult plant resistance (APR) based on combinations of 4-5 minor, slow rusting genes, with “near-immunity” or a high level of resistance to all 3 rusts & powdery mildew. Lines were internationally distributed to over 600 co-operators worldwide through the International Wheat Improvement Network (IWIN). The MEXPLAT pre-breeding and breeding platform was set up to support the International Wheat Yield Partnership. Florimond Desprez: Three varieties were registered in France (Aplomb, Strategie and Collector), 2 in Argentina (‘Lenga’ and ‘Algarrobo’), one in Uruguay (Algarrobo) and one in Spain. Limagrain: (1) QTLs of heat tolerance, Nitrogen use efficiency and disease resistance were confirmed and pyramided in elite background; (2) winter wheat breeding was established in the USA (Eastern Region, Central Plains & PNW and spring wheat breeding in Northern Plains) in collaboration with

Universities, with a special focus on quality in Colorado and (3) wheat breeding programmes were launched in Argentina and Brazil, in collaboration with South American public wheat research. Several GM constructs were developed and tested in the US (BIOGEMMA). Saaten-Union Research: Conventional wheat breeding and development of hybrid wheat seed production technologies (Chemical Hybridisation Agent) led to the listing of 2 new hybrid and 3 non-hybrid varieties. In 2014, 17,000 hectares of hybrid wheat seed production were sown and 250,000 hectares were grown in Europe with Saaten-Union hybrid wheat seeds. A joint venture was established with Elsoms seeds and Nordsaat in the UK for wheat breeding.

© WAQUET Aline - INRA

India: Eight varieties were released by the Central Variety Release Committee for commercial cultivation under different production conditions in 2013-2014 (DBW 71, HD3086, DBW88, DBW90, MP3336 UAS304, WHD 948 (d) & HD3090) and 5 genetic stocks were registered by the Plant Germplasm Registration Committee for different traits like resistance to diseases (rusts and foot rot), protein content and biscuit quality. Spain: In partnership with CIMMYT, CRA Italy, INIA Chile, the breeding progress in the pasta-making quality of durum wheat cultivars released in Italy and Spain during the 20th century was assessed and; (ii) the new durum wheat variety "Grador" of high grain quality and wide adaptability and that incorporates an adapted landrace on its pedigree, was released. UK: The BBSRC funded wheat prebreeding programme (WISP), based at the National Institute of Agricultural Botany, John Innes Centre, Rothamsted Research, and Nottingham and Bristol Universities, developed IP-free resources and germplasm through the exploitation of landraces, synthetics, and wild relatives, via phenotyping and genotyping. US: USDA-ARS, Colorado State University, Kansas State University, Oklahoma State University and


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Yield Australia: The genetic basis of the "paired spikelet" trait in which two rather than the usual single spikelet can form at each node of the spike was deciphered. The results demonstrated that "flowering genes" have a role in regulating spike architecture in ways that could lead to increases in wheat yield potential. Germany: Out of the proposals submitted to the 2013 call of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) "Breeding of high performance wheat varieties", 11 projects were selected and to a large extend already started in 2014. The budget of these projects for the next 3-5 years is about EUR 16.6M of which EUR 12M funded by the BMEL. Projects are dealing with hybrid breeding in wheat, resistance to fungi and viruses, phenotyping and various other topics, all aiming at increasing yield and yield stability in wheat. India: Significant yield gains due to improved varieties NHZ (26.83%), CZ (22.62%), NEPZ (18.18%) and PZ (13.50%) was demonstrated in Wheat Front Line Demonstrations (WFLDs) conducted at 1147 farmer’s field in 19 states through 60 cooperating centers. Italy: Root seminal traits (RSA) QTL map locations were compared with

those for grain yield, grain yield components and agronomic traits from previous field experiments. Significant differences between isogenic lines of contrasting parental alleles have been found for agronomic traits such as plant height, leaf chlorophyll content, senescence rate, grain yield, kernel weight and kernel volume weight. UK: The BBSRC funded 20:20 Wheat® project aims to provide the knowledge base and tools to increase wheat yield potential in the UK to 20 t.ha-1 within the next 20 years. In 2014 successes included describing genomes of the key fungal pathogens and identifying novel control targets, in transgenic approaches leading to higher biomass and possibilities for engineering carbon concentration mechanisms as well as identifying key future climate restraints on yield. New technologies have been developed for automated monitoring of crop performance including below ground root activity. Trial plots at Rothamsted routinely achieve in excess of 13.5 t/ha.

Disease resistance China: More than 100 advanced lines with adult plant resistance to yellow rust, leaf rust, and powdery mildew were developed based on the utilization of minor genes through

collaboration between CIMMYT and China. Hungary: Several leaf rust resistance genes were identified in breeding material and exotic genotypes. Several QTLs of effective resistance to Fusarium Head Blight were mapped in 35 breeding lines. India: A novel adult plant leaf rust resistance gene was transferred from a wild relative of wheat (Aegilops markgrafii) and the introgressed line showed a high degree of resistance to both leaf and stripe rust at adult plant stage. Rust diseases and leaf blight were recorded in SAARC countries in a Wheat Disease Monitoring Nursery planted at 27 locations in India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal and Bhutan. Ireland: Teagasc awarded a EUE 3.5M grant for the establishment of the first Virtual Irish Centre for Crop Improvement (VICCI). The VICCI wheat projects focus on broad-spectrum disease resistance and nitrogen use efficiency (screening novel wheat germplasm generated from founder lines) and aims at identifying genes, processes and pathways for increased disease resistance in winter wheat.


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began in 2014. The consortium of researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh, Newcastle, Sheffield and York with colleagues from Rothamsted Research and the Zoological Society of London are undertaking a multidisciplinary approach combining genomics, biochemistry, ecology, evolutionary biology and modelling with the aim of developing new ways to minimise the evolution of herbicide resistance in this major threat to wheat production In the UK. US: Resistance genes to leaf rust, stripe rust, Fusarium head blight, Hessian fly and soil-borne wheat mosaic virus were mapped. The genetics of resistance to stem rust in the cultivar ‘Thatcher’ was described as the complementary interaction of 3 genetic factors, enhanced by the gene Sr57 (Lr34). USD 5M annual USDA funding for 126 research projects in 27 US states were allocated to reduce Fusarium scab by developing resistant cultivars and enhanced management technology (US Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative). Florimond Desprez: Molecular markers were identified for orange wheat blossom midge resistance, grain yield with low inputs conditions, FHB mycotoxins and Septoria resistance. Septoria smallsecreted proteins were identified as potential candidates for leaf necrosis inducing toxins.

© FOUCHARD Marc - INRA

Italy: Markers linked to the QSbm. ubo-2B = Sbm2 resistance to SoilBorne Cereal Mosaic Virus and QTLs for the tolerant response to Septoria tritici were identified. A Triticum dicoccum collection and a Triticum turgidum pure line collections from world-wide and from Ethiopia were assembled, increased and screened for stripe rust response. UK: Seven scientific teams from the John Innes Centre The Sainsbury Laboratory and The Genome Analysis Centre have joined forces to form the Norwich Rust Group aiming to develop durable resistance in crops, including wheat. BBSRC funds number of research projects within the Norwich Rust Group for example ‘field pathogenomics’ which rapidly analyse the DNA of Yellow Rust from the field samples to pinpoint the exact strain of the rust spore. Researchers at Durham University, working with partners from Newcastle University and Rothamsted Research, have found a way that could potentially be used to stop extensive spreading of Septoria leaf blotch (STB) disease by manipulating the TaR1 protein levels in wheat and activating the plant’s defences earlier. This potentially allows for more effective control of the disease. Black-grass resistance initiative, a fouryear BBSRC-HGCA funded project,

© SUFFERT Frédéric - INRA


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Abiotic stresses including adaptation

Australia: High levels of the resistant starch amylose have been demonstrated to confer significant health benefits. A high amylose wheat (> 80 %) was developed. This new material would not have been possible without the earlier GM studies which guided the identification of appropriate null lines, and allowed health substantiation studies to be conducted. France: FranceAgriMer and Intercéréales launched a national plan to increase wheat protein content. The plan is based on three complementary areas involving research and innovation, education and regulations: (1) Increasing wheat Nitrogen use efficiency to develop new varieties with high yield and high grain protein content (research and genetics); (2) Improvement of Nitrogen fertilisation prac-

© GALLANT Daniel - INRA

Italy: SNPs were identified for tetraploid wheat heat tolerance traits. Spain: A durum wheat collection of 400 entries has been phenotyped for traits associated to drought resistance. The effect of the climate of the zone of origin of Mediterranean durum wheat landraces on their agronomic performance has been demonstrated and the effect of Ppd-1 genes on durum wheat flowering time and grain filling duration was evaluated in a wide range of latitudes. The response of a pale-green mutant to drought stress has been studied at agronomic, transcriptomic and proteomic level showing the relationship between the greater oxidative stress of the mutant with the molecular changes on it and the effect on grain yield. US: Two different genes, one associated with head length and another associated with the number of seedbearing bodies per head, were both mapped to a single chromosome. It was shown that the FR-A2-T allele of the FR2 gene and three copies of the recessive vrn-A1 allele improve frost tolerance in winter wheat.

Quality

tises by farmers (agronomy) and; (3) Equipment of all grain collectors with rapid measurement devices for protein content and labelling of the grain protein content for all market deliveries (contractual relationships). Hungary: The cultivar ‘GK Igeret’ with premium extensograph value was registered in Hungary. This was developed in partnership with: Bayer Crop Science, Hungarian Corn Club, SumiAgro Hungary, Shandong Agricultural University Tai an China, Namık Kemal University Tekirdag, Turkey. India: 9602 wheat grain samples were analyzed and promising genotypes were identified for chapati, bread, biscuit, pasta and other quality parameters. Full-length genomic sequence of TaPAPhy_a1.1 was cloned and sequenced from Indian wheat cultivar DBW 17. Italy: In partnership with CNR and ENEA, CRA evaluated the response of a wheat germplasm collection to elevated CO2 and demonstrated its impact on durum wheat grain and pasta quality (funding: Fondazioni AGER). Spain: 82 allele/banding patters at the Glu-1 and Glu-2/Glu-3 loci not previously reported were identified in a collection of durum wheat Mediterranean landraces, some of them having positive effect on gluten strength.


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Crop managment Australia: A 5-year co-ordinated series of GRDC-funded cropping systems experiments across Australia have clearly demonstrated the contributions of break crops (legumes and/or canola) to the sustainability and profitability of rainfed wheat production. The cropping sequences with the highest cumulative 3-4 year gross margins included break crops in the first and/or second year of the rotation. Legumes increased concentrations of soil mineral N for following wheat crops, and both legumes and canola reduced the incidence of cereal diseases, and provided new options to manage herbicide-resistant grasses and weed seed banks. India: Experiments were conducted on the refinement of the technologies, diversification/intensification, integrated nutrient and weed management, precision nutrient management, micro-irrigation, etc. and recommendations were made for adoption. CGIAR WHEAT Program led by CIMMYT: Clear impact evidenced that largest productivity gains in the South Asia rainfed regions can come from combining new varieties with improved soil, crop, and water management. Most effective for water

use efficiency is precision laser land levelling (PLL), now practiced on 1.5 million+ hectares in South Asia. With PLL and raised bed planting, wheat yields up to 16.6% higher, nearly 50% less irrigation water use and 132% higher water productivity. Based on research started under Rice-Wheat Consortium (1994-2008), now Cereal Systems in South Asia program, in collaboration with the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change (CCAFS).

is achievable against the relative cost and genetic complexity for different traits. Spain: Digital photography has proved to be useful to assess biomass and LAI on a fast, cheap and repeatable way either under bright and overcast skies.

Infrastructures, facilities and resources Argentina: A grant was allocated by CONICET/ANPCyT to build and develop a new laboratory facility dedicated to genotyping services for Marker Assisted Selection (MAS). Australia: The deployment of high throughput (non-destructive) phenotyping tools (e.g. canopy temperature, LiDAR-biomass/LAI) in an Australiawide network of Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) supported managed environment field facilities (MEF’s) has provided the capability to value a range of physiological traits (relative to each other) for improved crop performance and enhanced water use efficiency. For the first time wheat breeders will be able to evaluate the genetic gain that

© SEGURA Raphaël - INRA


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International partnerships including funding and coordination Argentina: Ten research articles related with wheat yield improvement, adaptation, quality and safety were published in collaboration with public and private institutions from Argentina and different countries. China: Various policies were released to strengthen the collaborations between seed companies and research programs at public research institutes, including funding for joint projects. India: Collaborations are underway with CIMMYT, ACIAR, ICARDA, BGRI, DRRW, Cornell University, WSU, University of Sydney and advanced wheat laboratories in almost all the developed countries including USA, UK, France, Australia, Germany, Canada, et al. for strengthening ICAR’s wheat improvement programme. Ireland: Establishment of multi-institutional partnerships including the NUI Galway, University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, NUI Maynooth and University of Reading. Italy: Partnerships have been established with INRA Montpellier, CIMMYT, ICARDA, PRI-Wageningen, Washington State University, PSB-Syngenta, ISEA-Agroservice.

UK: The Newton Fund has afforded new opportunities to work with a number of countries on wheat related projects. BBSRC anticipates allocating funding of circa £10M (over 5 years) to enable UK scientists to work on collaborative joint projects with Brazil, China, India and Mexico. The BBSRC and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Council (Embrapa) announced a joint call for collaborative research proposals in wheat research, as part of the Newton activity. BBSRC investments in wheat research have been rising with spend in 2013/14 of £17M. Projects include studies in yield, disease resistance, abiotic stress and nutritional enhancement. Significant commitments have been made to support the International Wheat Yield Partnership. CGIAR WHEAT Program led by CIMMYT: 70 partners from 30 countries at WHEAT Global Partners Meeting on Phase II Proposal (2017-26). WHEAT partners with over 200 research and development partners globally. For more information including the forthcoming 2014 Annual Report, see: http://wheat.org. Florimond Desprez: Partnerships are underway with Arvalis, John Innes Centre (UK), Plant Research International (The Netherlands), RAGT,

Syngenta, Limagrain Europe, and the Interuniversitäres Department für Agrarbiotechnologie Tulln (Germany). Limagrain: Partnerships have been developed with CAAS (China), Boreal (Finland), US Universities, Horticultural Research and Development Corporation (HRDC), Australian Grain Technologies (AGT) and Universities (Australia), and a number of European academic institutions through publically funded research projects. RAGT 2n: Has been active in several research collaborations throughout Europe, both with other commercial organisations and research institutes, such as the BREEDWHEAT consortium in France and the WISP consortium in the UK. RAGT 2n is also an active contributor to several targeted projects including: FSOV projects in France, CIRC, LINK and Agri-Tech Strategy initiatives in the UK, and some Pro-Weizen projects in Germany.


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2015: OUR COMMITMENT TO DELIVER SUCCESSES I

n 2014, the Chairs of the Institutions’ Coordination Committee, Research Committee and Scientific Board convened to establish a shared work plan and harmonise the work of the three Committees. This shared work plan oversees all activities and policies of the Wheat Initiative as follows.

SRA consultation and launch In 2015 the Strategic Research Agenda will be consolidated after an open consultation to ensure that the challenges, research needs and research priorities identified in the draft are appropriate. To ensure a continuation between the Wheat Initiative inception and the SRA delivery, the launch of the SRA is expected on the sidelines of the Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists of the G20 Nations in summer 2015.

Expert Working Groups look up In 2014, contributions of EWGs to the Wheat Initiative’s objectives very much varied depending on the level of development of each group. For 2015, the Wheat Initiative wants to foster the work of each EWG and elicit tangible outputs that support the needs of the wider wheat research community.

Associated Programmes

International presence

Recognising the presence of international wheat research programmes, collaborations and partnership, and strong of its catalyst role within the international wheat community, the Wheat Initiative welcomes these multinational initiatives to become "Associated Programmes to the Wheat Initiative (APs)".

EXPO 2015: “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” In June 2015 the Wheat Initiative will be a part of the Universal Exhibition - EXPO Milano 2015 with the event “Wheat for the Future - Advancing Wheat Research for Global Food Security”. 9th International Wheat Conference The Wheat Initiative is participating to the 9th International Wheat Conference (IWC) in Sydney (Australia) on September 20-25, 2015.

The Wheat Initiative will provide APs the opportunity to increase their international visibility through participation to its various activities and will strengthen their contribution to the development and implementation of global research priorities.

Wheat VIVO The Wheat Initiative aims at developing an openaccess web portal that provides information about wheat researchers and projects amongst the global public-private wheat community. To develop it, the Wheat Initiative has chosen the VIVO research-focused discovery tool already used by a number of Universities and research organisations. An INRA taskforce initiated in 2014 a mapping of existing resources and their availability. Database mapping and consolidation is expected to continue in 2015.

Communications Tremendous progress has been made in all the Wheat Initiative internal, external and online communications in 2014. To respond to the rapidly changing structure of the Wheat Initiative groups, activities and products, a new website with improved media solutions and collaborative spaces will be launched in 2015.

Membership development The Wheat Initiative continues to encourage all of its ICC members to catalyse the attention of private actors in their respective countries on the importance of a coordinated policy action in wheat research, and welcomes all countries involved in wheat research to join its members.


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© LANGRIDGE Peter

THE WHEAT INITIATIVE SECRETARIAT TEAM

T

he Wheat initiative Secretariat underwent some changes in 2014 and is now pleased to count on the skills of a new programme manager - Thomas Amand and a new administrative assistant Vouchly Khun, in addition to our Communications Officer, Anna Dall’Oca. A Dutch and Belgian national, Thomas replaces Timothy Bayl since September 2014, and brings with him an international experience in the fields of law and programme management.

CONTACTS

THOMAS AMAND

Graphic design by L'Attitude 49 - www.lattitude49.com

A French and Cambodian national, Vouchly Khun replaces Sandrine Jacques since July 2014 and has a background in administration, human resources and literature.

Wheat Initiative Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique 147, rue de l’Université 75338 Paris Cedex 07 - France Tel: +33 (0) 1 42 75 92 53

Email: [email protected] www.wheatinitiative.org

VOUCHLY KHUN


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