The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is leading several international initiatives to combat an increase in frequency and severity of outbreaks of wheat rust triggered by climate change.
13 March 2014: The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is leading several international initiatives to combat an increase in frequency and severity of outbreaks of wheat rust triggered by climate change.
A CGIAR news release explains how climate change is accelerating the re-emergence of rust pathogens as a threat to global wheat production and provides an overview of the CGIAR’s international agricultural research institutes and system-wide initiatives towards increasing resistance against the three strains of wheat rusts (stem, leaf and stripe rust) and developing actions to manage outbreaks and minimize economic impacts.
The Borlaug Global Rust Initiative aims to reduce the world’s vulnerability to wheat rust by supporting a sustainable international system to contain the threat of wheat rusts and continue the enhancements in productivity required to withstand future global threats to wheat.
The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) maintains an information portal for sharing experiences and potential solutions to the wheat rust diseases with a focus on stripe rust.
The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) leads the CGIAR-wide research program on wheat, including efforts to increase and maintain resistance against rust. It also operates Rust Tracker, a global rust monitoring and alert system which provides rapid notifications and alerts about rust outbreaks anywhere in the world.
The news release further provides links to partners and projects involved in rust research, as well as case studies and media resources on wheat rust. [CGIAR News Release] [Borlaug Global Rust Initiative][ICARDA Portal on Wheat Stripe Rust] [CGIAR Research Program on Wheat] [Rust Tracker Website]