June 9, 2006

USDA gives grant for research into organic wheat

A Washington State University wheat breeder has become the first researcher to receive a grant from the USDA to develop wheat for low input organic agriculture systems.

There is a burgeoning demand for organic wheat and organic food is a growing sector in the food industry, said Stephen Jones, who received a US$680,000 grant for his breeding programme.

While it was thought that the best wheat varieties would thrive in any production system, Jones begs to differ.

There are different pressures in different systems, Jones said.

If wheat is grown in low fertility soil, there are traits these plants need to compete against weeds. They also need to be more efficient in absorbing nutrients.

For the past five years, Jones has been crossing modern wheat varieties with those grown before the use of nitrogen fertilisers and other inputs.

He hopes to develop varieties that will have good end-use qualities, compete successfully with weeds, and use nitrogen and other nutrients efficiently.

Research on low-input and organic wheat could benefit conventional wheat growers as well as help them cut costs when nitrates are absorbed efficiently, Jones said.

He hopes to release the first organic wheat varieties from his programme in the next five years.