Climate-resilient wheat
Executive Summary
- First, we aim to quantify the potential effects of drought and heat stress events on wheat yield in the producing areas of Argentina and Uruguay under different possible scenarios and management strategies.
- Second, we aim to characterize attributes and physiological mechanisms responsible for the response to heat stress and drought in commercial wheat varieties, with the goal of identifying more resilient varieties and progenitors for genetic improvement programs.
- Third, the development of dissemination and extension activities is proposed, along with workshops for farmers, researchers, and seed companies in the region.
The technological solution
This project aims to improve wheat resilience in Latin America against drought and heat stress derived from climate change. It will quantify the impact of these factors on wheat yields in Argentina and Uruguay, identify traits in current varieties that help counter these stresses, and share practices and findings with farmers and experts. The project will help reduce potential economic losses in the sector through more resilient production systems, enhancing the use of water and fertilizers while limiting environmental impact. These contributions will support more sustainable agriculture with potential for application in other Latin American regions.
Results
The aim is to characterize past and future trends, as well as the potential effects of drought events and heat stress on wheat yield in the study region. Experimentally, physiological attributes and mechanisms responsible for the response to heat stress and drought will be characterized in modern wheat germplasm. Finally, knowledge management and communication of the project's results will be carried out from the beginning of the project.
Beneficiaries
The direct beneficiaries of this technical cooperation will encompass approximately 2,500 producers and producer advisors across Argentina and Uruguay. The involvement of AAPRESID (No-Till Argentine Association; 1,800 members), AACREA (Argentine Association of Regional Consortia for Agricultural Experimentation; 2,163 members), AFA (Federated Argentine Farmers; 36,000 producer members), FUCREA (Uruguayan Federation of CREA Groups; 600 members), and AUSID (No-Till Uruguayan Association; 54 producer members) as associated organizations, particularly in dissemination, transfer, and training activities, ensures that this group of direct beneficiaries will be reached. The group of indirect beneficiaries remains highly speculative. However, knowing that farmers from these associations in Argentina and Uruguay are leaders in their fields, a very conservative estimate suggests that the project's impact will reach at least 10,000 indirect beneficiaries in the initial stage after the project's completion. Additionally, both emerging researchers and students who participate in this proposal will also be direct beneficiaries (those involved in training under the project) and indirect beneficiaries (those who will benefit from results published in subsequent literature).
Sustainable Development Goals
Participating Organizations
Executor
- Universidad de Lleida (UdL) - España
Co-executor
- Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR) - Argentina
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA) - Uruguay
Associated
- Asociación Argentina de Productores en Siembra Directa (AAPRESID) - Argentina
- Asociación Argentina de Consorcios Regionales de Experimentación Agrícola (AACREA) - Argentina
- Agricultores Federados Argentinos S.C.L. (AFA) - Argentina
- Federación Uruguaya de Grupos CREA (FUCREA) - Uruguay
- Asociación Uruguaya Pro Siembra Directa (AUSID) - Uruguay
- Oklahoma State University (Oklahoma State University) - Estados Unidos
- Kansas State University (KSU) - Estados Unidos