Designed to help improve production, processing and value-added uses for cereals, oilseeds and pulses through research.

Key support to be offered for wheat and maize flour and rice fortification.

The crop is 18% emerged, ahead of last year but below the 25% five-year average.

A grain yield reduction is expected to be lower in the 2014-15 season.

The benchmark U.S. wheat price averaged $340 per tonne, 5% above year-ago levels.

Declines in hard red winter wheat states offset gains in soft red winter wheat states.

The transaction is expected to close in June.

Tempting to declare this period as one of the longest times of steadiness in per capita consumption in modern history.

The group is now forecasting world production at 697 million tonnes.

Farmers intend to plan 24,766,000 acres of all wheat in 2014, down 5% from last year.