WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Dec. 14 the availability of $3.4 million for research projects in support of the new International Wheat Yield Partnership (IWYP) program.

"Wheat is one of the world's most important staple crops, providing a significant amount of daily calories and protein throughout the world," said Vilsack. "By 2050, the demand for wheat as part of a reliable, affordable, and nutritious diet will grow alongside the world population, and continued wheat research will play an important role in ensuring its continued availability."

Awards for this program will be made through USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture's (NIFA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), which is authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.

The new IWYP program seeks to enhance agriculture research that can benefit the global community and support the G20 nations' Wheat Initiative with the key aims of enhancing the genetic component of wheat yield and developing new wheat varieties that are adaptable to different geographical regions and environmental conditions. The program’s priorities will focus on breakthroughs for wheat breeding using new technologies and also discoveries that lead to significantly greater yield. Applications that demonstrate coordination and collaboration with international partners are encouraged. Applications are due May 3, 2016 and more information may be found in the NIFA-IWYP Request for Applications.