Australia
February 19, 2025
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Professor Rajeev Varshney (left) with inaugural session speakers, including GRDC’s managing director Nigel Hart (third from left). - Photo: David Broadway
Key points
- The Third International Wheat Congress was held in Perth in September 2024
- Held every two years, the congress brings together global researchers, government organisations, trade bodies and commercial breeders
- The aim is to share insights to enhance the sustainability and resilience of wheat production systems
The future of wheat research is in “very safe hands”, according to Murdoch University’s Professor Rajeev K Varshney.
Following the Third International Wheat Congress (IWC) held in Perth in September 2024, Professor Varshney was positive about the ability of global research to meet future challenges.
Professor Varshney – who has many strings to his bow, including as director of Murdoch University’s State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre and the Centre for Crop and Food Innovation – was the national chair of
the congress.
The Third International Wheat Congress in numbers
The week-long event, supported by GRDC, is held every two years. It enables the global wheat community to gather to discuss wheat breeding, genetics, genomics and agronomy.
In 2024, Murdoch University’s Centre for Crop and Food Innovation hosted the event in collaboration with GRDC and The Wheat Initiative, an international partnership of research funders and research organisations. At the congress, researchers presented findings and shared insights to enhance the sustainability and resilience of wheat production systems.
Some of the most pressing challenges facing global wheat research and production, including climate change impacts, the need to feed a growing population, and increased regulatory burdens, were discussed at the congress.
However, Professor Varshney said the presentations highlighted how global wheat research was well-placed to meet emerging demands.
One of my key goals for this congress was to highlight the diversity and inclusion within the wheat industry, not only in terms of geography but also across disciplines and career stages.
He added that, based on the high-quality research shared by early career researchers, “the future of wheat research is in very safe hands”.
Topics discussed at the congress included:
- innovative ways of addressing world hunger;
- research into improving nutritional outcomes;
climate change;
- efforts to eliminate regulatory red tape;
- efforts to limit pesticide reliance; and
facilitating fair and equitable global trade.
A key takeaway was the willingness of researchers from across the globe to work together to ensure that wheat production in the future is more sustainable, more resilient to climate challenges, more profitable for growers and offers better health and nutrition outcomes.
Professor Varshney is now chair of the International Organising Committee for IWC 2026, which will be held in Bologna, Italy.
GRDC managing director, Nigel Hart, presented an overview of GRDC in the inaugural session of the Congress. GRDC general manager genetic technologies, biosecurity and regulation, Dr Juan Juttner, and senior manager – west, Peter Bird, co-chaired sessions and panel discussions.
Topics
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