APPLYING CUTTING-EDGE GENOMICS TO
DEVELOP CLIMATE-RESILIENT
WHEAT VARIETIES
The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Applied Wheat Genomics is
a global hunger and food initiative led by USAID. Our team applies
cutting-edge genomics, physiology and international phenotyping networks
to develop heat-tolerant, high-yielding, and farmer-accepted varieties for
South Asia, while increasing the research for development capacity of the
global wheat improvement system.
Wheat is one of the most important
staple crops worldwide and the
principle source of nutrients and
income for some of the world’s
poorest countries. While the
demand for wheat in developing
countries is projected to increase
60% by 2050, rising temperatures
induced by climate change are
expected to dramatically reduce
production, leading to food
insecurity and creating conditions
for widespread social unrest.
WHAT WE’RE DOING:
ee Generating wheat varieties with enhanced
climate resilience, combining heat
tolerance with heat avoidance (earliness),
and maximized yield potential for
increased food security and income.
ee Creating an extensive public resource of
genotypic and phenotypic data on elite
candidate wheat varieties.
FOCUS COUNTRIES
India, Pakistan
South Asia produces 20% of the world’s
wheat crop. Increased demand for
food, coupled with unfavorable growing
conditions due to climate change, poses a
threat to food security in this region.
FEED THE FUTURE INNOVATION LAB FOR
APPLIED WHEAT GENOMICS
Kansas State University
4024 Throckmorton Plant Sciences Center
Manhattan, KS 66506
www.k-state.edu/wheat-innovation-lab