2nd call for proposals from the International Wheat Yield Partnership

By Jeff Gwyn/IWYP

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (December 16, 2016) –The International Wheat Yield Partnership (IWYP) is initiating its Second Competitive Funding Call by inviting creative, forward-looking proposals that seek to discover resilient and sustainable approaches to substantially increase the genetic yield potential of wheat, as defined by grain yield under the absence of stress, for the benefit of developed and developing countries. It is anticipated that wheat yield potential can be enhanced by:

• Increasing carbon capture before flowering
• Increasing biomass
• Optimizing harvest index
• Enhancing photosynthetic pathways
• Specific changes in plant architecture
• Modifying phenology, e.g., flowering time
• Hybrid wheat system development
• Root structure and growth
• Faster / alternative breeding methods
• Modeling to define best traits per environment

The topics above are given as an illustrative list for areas of research that are being sought and we will consider other research topics that pertain to genetic yield potential. Proposals that concentrate mainly on plant stresses or agronomic systems will be considered out of scope. The proposed research should be based on Triticeae germplasm or lead to discoveries directly relevant to wheat.

With this initiative IWYP is seeking breakthroughs in genetic yield potential beyond what is expected to occur in ongoing breeding programs. Therefore, new or different approaches and/or novel techniques are envisaged. Research outputs should be clearly defined in terms of specifically timed milestones and quantifiable deliverables. Proposals where outputs are only descriptions of plant processes will be considered out of scope.

The selection process will be two-stage whereby applicants must first submit a Pre-Proposal due by 3 March 2017. Full details and application instructions can be found at https://iwyp.org/ beginning 16 December 2016. Proposals that do not closely adhere to the instructions, formats and timelines will not be considered. Proposals must be academic led and can be from single institutions, although national and especially international consortia are strongly encouraged. Applications involving private industry collaborators are also strongly encouraged. Funding requests can range from 1 to 3 years but should not exceed a maximum cash request of US$2 Million over 3 years. Full-Proposals will be invited from selected Pre-Proposals. Proposals will be judged by their scientific excellence, breakthrough potential and relevance to markedly improving the genetic yield potential of wheat.

The successful proposals will be integrated into the IWYP Science Program led by the Program Director in liaison with a Scientific Advisory Committee. Discoveries made in the Science Program will be further characterized, validated and developed in advanced wheat lines for rapid deployment in breeding programs by the IWYP Hub at CIMMYT.

The International Wheat Yield Partnership (IWYP) is a major public/private initiative being supported by research funders, international agencies, national and international research organizations and industry partners. Its goal is to increase wheat yields globally in both developed and developing countries. IWYP is led by a Program Director, an international Board of funders, scientific experts and members from commercial breeding companies.