1. A L I M E N T A T I O N A G R I C U L T U R E E N V I R O N N E M E N T 1 G20 – 12th May 2011 An International Research Initiative for Wheat Improvement Hélène Lucas – INRA Peter Langridge - ACPFG

2. A L I M E N T A T I O N A G R I C U L T U R E E N V I R O N N E ME N T 2 G20 – 12th May 2011 Why wheat … The world’s most important food crop and the second most important food crop in the developing world  Provides 20% of all calories and 20% of all protein in developing and developed countries  Main staple for an estimated 1.2 billion poor (< 2$ per day, “wheat-dependent”)  Wheat is the most traded crop

3. A L I M E N T A T I O N A G R I C U L T U R E E N V I R O N N E ME N T 3 G20 – 12th May 2011 Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Importance of Wheat as calorie source (2005-07, FAO Stats)

4. A L I M E N T A T I O N A G R I C U L T U R E E N V I R O N N E ME N T 4 G20 – 12th May 2011 Why an international research initiative  Wheat production has not met demand in 6 of the last 10 yrs and demandwillincrease by at least 70% in 2050  Annual wheat yield increases must jump from the current level below 1% to at least 1.7%  Investment in wheat research has been low compared to maize.  Several new national and international initiatives  Opportunity to build international collaborations and contribute to food security Maize Wheat Production Yield Production (x10 8 ) Yield (t/ha) Global production and yields for wheat and maize. FAOSTAT

5. A L I M E N T A T I O N A G R I C U L T U R E E N V I R O N N E ME N T 5 G20 – 12th May 2011 G20 organisations currently supporting the International Research Initiative for WheatImprovement  Support from research groups from: Argentina Australia Austria Canada China CzechRepublic Estonia France Germany India Italy Kazakhstan Mexico Switzerland Turkey USA UK Ukraine  Support from international initiatives : IWGSC, ITMI

6. A L I M E N T A T I O N A G R I C U L T U R E E N V I R O N N E ME N T 6 G20 – 12th May 2011 Creation of an International Wheat Research Coordination Committee  International coordination of wheat research a global response to the major food security challenge over the next 40 years  Urgent need to : avoid duplication of efforts, add value to the existing national or international public and private initiatives, increase economic efficiencies.

7. A L I M E N T A T I O N A G R I C U L T U R E E N V I R O N N E ME N T 7 G20 – 12th May 2011 Goal:coordinate world-wide wheat improvement research efforts  Create a forum to encourage collaborations Add value to major national and international (public and private) funded wheat programmes  Update priorities for wheat research of global relevance Monitor and summarize science progress Communicate to national and international funding agencies the needs of the wheat research community of participating nations  Facilitate open communication Exchange of germplasm, data, materials and ideas within the wheat research community  Develop minimum data standards and protocols for consistent and comparable analyses Support the development of publically available integrated databases and platforms

8. A L I M E N T A T I O N A G R I C U L T U R E E N V I R O N N E ME N T 8 G20 – 12th May 2011 Initial tasks for IRIWI  Launch of the International Research Initiative for Wheat Improvement Members and chair of the International Wheat Coordination Committee September 2011  Common vision and strategic plan for the International Research Initiative for Wheat Improvement January 2012  Launch web portal, discussion forum, and centralised wheat information system February 2012  First International Wheat Conference 2013

9. A L I M E N T A T I O N A G R I C U L T U R E E N V I R O N N E ME N T 9 G20 – 12th May 2011 Proposed IRIWI organisation International Wheat Research Committee (IWRC) Management group Existing consortia Genome sequencing (IWGSC) Genotyping(I WSWG) New working groups (examples) Germplasm Databases and bioinformatics Phenotyping Breeding methodologies Agronomy Training & capacity building

10. A L I M E N T A T I O N A G R I C U L T U R E E N V I R O N N E ME N T 10 G20 – 12th May 2011 Summary  Wheat is our most important crop and production is falling well behind demand BUT  New investment offers the opportunity to address the low rates of yield gain  It is important to maximise the benefits of this investment Through coordination By sharing resources By signalling research and funding agencies that the agricultural G20 supports investment and collaboration in wheat research

11. A L I M E N T A T I O N A G R I C U L T U R E E N V I R O N N E ME N T 11 G20 – 12th May 2011

12. A L I M E N T A T I O N A G R I C U L T U R E E N V I R O N N E ME N T 12 G20 – 12th May 2011 Centralised information system  Wheat web portal  access to databases  bioinformatics and statistical tools  descriptions of ongoing research projects  initiatives, news and job opportunities  Storage and visualisation  genomic, genetic, phenotypic and agronomic data  information on genetic resources  tools to connect different types of data  A simple means for directing orders and requests for information or materials to the appropriate provider;  A central repository of protocols and methods  genotypic and phenotypic analysis  agronomic data acquisition,  contact details for support;  A discussion forum for the wheat scientific community.

13. A L I M E N T A T I O N A G R I C U L T U R E E N V I R O N N E ME N T 13 G20 – 12th May 2011 Management and tasks Representatives from major public research programmes, national & international organisations, private companies Chair and Deputy chair Meets annually International Wheat Research Committee (IWRC) Chair and Deputy chair of the IWRC Chairs and Deputy chairs of working groups Coordinates annual reports Meets annually Management group Aim and duration determined by the IWRC Chair and Deputy chair Generate annual reports Regularly reviewed by IWRC Meet annually Working groups

14. A L I M E N T A T I O N A G R I C U L T U R E E N V I R O N N E ME N T 14 G20 – 12th May 2011 Proposed IRIWI organisation International Wheat Research Committee (IWRC) Management group Working groups (possible examples) Germplasm Databases and bioinformatics Phenotyping Breeding methodologies Agronomy Training & capacity building