A working group on food security, assembled by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, has made recommendations for a 5-year Strategy to help shape the council's funding of wheat research.

The Strategy, published on Thursday, comprises recommendations from the working group to and outlines priorities for research into wheat. The recommendations and strategy document were produced following an online consultation with stakeholders and a review of BBSRC's research portfolio, the working group said.

The group highlighted the major international role BBSRC has in wheat research and commended the UK's track record in wheat research.

Key research priorities identified in the strategy include developing new traits and practices for improved sustainability (such as resilience to climatic variation and disease and waste minimisation). The working group also recommended improving the transition between the laboratory and the field, including developing field capacity to improve work in field conditions.

The Strategy and associated recommendations can be seen at: www.bbsrc.ac.uk/web/files/strategies/2013_bbsrc_wheat_strategy.pdf (PDF 522KB)