| Abstract |
WHEAT works on two primary value streams – improved wheat germplasm and sustainable intensification of climate smart wheat-based systems – contributing directly and indirectly to six CGIAR IDOs (in particular greater productivity increases, poverty reduction, food security, environmental sustainability and greater gender equity and empowerment). An estimated 30 million poor farmers in the developing world rely on wheat system innovations to improve their incomes, the sustainability of their production and to adapt to climate change. WHEAT (and its predecessors) has impacted 50% of them to date and plans to reach at least a similar number with new technologies or know-how that can elevate their ability to increase income, become more food-secure and produce more sustainably (see Annex 3.1, p.18)1 . The challenge for WHEAT is to maximize contributions to the expected annual wheat demand increase of 1.7% (up from the current 1.1%), which must be met in spite of: climate change; increased water, land, nutrient and labor scarcity or cost; and more aggressive pests and diseases. As more than half of wheat production is located in the developing world, most of this productivity increase will need to take place there, including Africa, where at least 8 countries have significant potential to profitably and sustainably increase wheat production. Wheat is grown in many male-dominated societies and creative avenues need to be found to strengthen the role of women farmers and consumers. Important 2013 outcomes and impacts included zero-till (ZT) scale-out and -up in Kazakhstan, large-scale adoption of CGIAR-derived varieties in Ethiopia (leading to greater production), West and South Asia (greater stress tolerance) and both systems- and germplasm-based increases in farmer incomes in Mexico (see C.2.). Past impacts were documented for China and Ethiopia (see C.3.) and gender mainstreaming in an increasing number of projects. Important collaborations include those with advanced research institutes and national agricultural research systems (NARS) in Afghanistan, Australia, China, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Netherlands, Pakistan, UK and US, and linkages with other CRPs, in particular A4NH, CCAFS, Dryland Systems, GRiSP, MAIZE and PIM. The CRP invested approximately 12% of its resources to: strengthen capacities in Central, South and West Asia, Africa and Mexico, reaching approximately 17,500 professionals and farmers; associated with the international wheat improvement network (IWIN); and the 45 multi-stakeholder innovation platforms supported by WHEAT. In regard to funding, it was very encouraging that the Wheat Yield Consortium (WYC) matured into the multi-donor International Wheat Yield Partnership (IWYP) that will employ cutting-edge approaches to increase the wheat yield potential. |
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