International scientists have identified ancient and wild wheat varieties as essential to ensuring food security in the Global South, where approximately 1.5 billion individuals rely on the crop as a staple. In a pair of studies published recently, researchers affiliated with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and its partners assert that leveraging the extensive genetic repository of these age-old species is imperative for climate-proofing wheat, conserving biodiversity, and combating global hunger.
The significance of wheat to global food systems cannot be overstated. Yet, with escalating climate volatility and the rising prevalence of pests and diseases, the crop’s resilience is increasingly under threat. The scientists underscore that the genetic diversity found in nearly 800,000 wheat seed samples stored across 155 gene banks worldwide—including wild relatives and ancient varieties cultivated by farmers over millennia—remains largely untapped in modern breeding programmes.
This genetic diversity, which has endured environmental stresses for centuries, holds immense promise. Researchers have already observed substantial benefits when integrating these ancient traits into contemporary wheat strains. For instance, disease-resistant varieties have obviated the need for an estimated 1 billion litres of fungicide since the turn of the millennium. Moreover, wheat incorporating wild traits exhibited a 20 percent increase in growth under extreme heat and drought conditions compared to conventional strains.
Susanne Dreisigacker, a molecular breeder at CIMMYT and co-author of one of the studies, advocates for the strategic transfer of disease, pest, and drought-resistant genes from wild wheat relatives into mainstream varieties. This, she asserts, will enable humanity to meet its food production needs without inflicting further harm on fragile ecosystems.
As extreme weather phenomena—ranging from heatwaves to floods—become more frequent across the Global South, the scientists emphasise that harnessing the genetic diversity of ancient wheat will be transformative. Such an approach is expected to sustain food and nutritional security on a global scale, they declare.
The advantages of these wild wheat varieties extend beyond mere survival. They have demonstrated superior nitrogen utilisation, possess more extensive root systems that enhance water and nutrient absorption, and can thrive across a broader temperature spectrum. These traits make them invaluable in the context of a changing climate.
Benjamin Kilian, co-author of the study and coordinator of the Crop Trust’s Biodiversity for Opportunities, Livelihoods and Development (BOLD) project, recommends deploying next-generation technologies to facilitate access to this vast genetic reservoir. Advanced tools such as gene sequencing, big-data analytics, imagery, and remote sensing can empower breeders to unlock the full potential of ancient wheat diversity.
However, realising this potential will necessitate robust global collaboration. Kilian underscores the importance of international cooperation in research, technology transfer, and the dissemination of knowledge. Only through such concerted efforts can the untapped genetic resources of ancient and wild wheat be fully exploited to secure a sustainable agricultural future.
