ABSTRACT
Chapter 4 focuses on wheat, the epicentre of global food security, because it is the most widely cultivated cereal in the world. The chapter vividly discusses the challenges imposed by climate change and related abiotic (heat, drought, salinity) and biotic (pathogens, insects, weeds) stresses that are putting scientists and farmers to the test to improve wheat productivity and quality for future generations. The chapter recommends off the farm, new technologies such as genomic selection, high throughput phenotyping and genome editing that will play a larger role in wheat breeding. The chapter also suggests increasing gender awareness, providing better infrastructure such as roads and storage facilities, and focusing on capacity building for increasing wheat productivity and smallholder income. The chapter concludes that with the right policies in place and the right commitment from policymakers, scientists and donors, sustainable intensification of wheat production will be able to alleviate food insecurity.
