USDA announces $3.4 million in new research funds for wheat

Wheat farmers are excited to hear of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) $3.4 million in new research funds so they can continue work to increase global wheat yield by as much as 60 percent by 2050.

Researchers affiliated with the International Wheat Yield Partnership will be able to apply for the grant money.

“This opens up new opportunities for scientists in the United States to provide invaluable input to the overall project of increasing yields, improving our potential to tackle this vital work to achieve global food security,” Matthew Reynolds, wheat physiologist at the Mexico-based International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, said.

"Wheat is one of the world's most important staple crops, providing a significant amount of daily calories and protein throughout the world," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. "By 2050, the demand for wheat as part of a reliable, affordable and nutritious diet will grow alongside the world population, and continued wheat research will play an important role in ensuring its continued availability."

The awards for the new funds will be provided by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.