Growth in yields of wheat must double if the Green Revolution is to be put back on track.

Norman Borlaug Centenary Emblem

NATURE | EDITORIAL
Wheat lag
Growth in yields of the cereal must double if the Green Revolution is to be put back on track.
26 March 2014
Wheat is widely considered to be the world’s most important crop, and Norman Borlaug knew a thing or two about how to grow it. The US agronomist developed varieties that could better resist disease and gave higher yields. In doing so, he saved an estimated one billion people from starvation.

Wheat provides 20% of the dietary energy for the world’s population. Yet growth in yields has stagnated at around 0.9% per year over the past decade ­— by contrast, maize (corn) yields grow by almost double that at approximately 1.6% per year. To meet future demand for food, researchers say that wheat yields must grow by 1.7% each year. That will require investment. The total global spend on wheat breeding and research, around US$500 million per year, is currently one-quarter of that spent to improve maize...

More @ Wheat lag : Nature News & Comment:

Refers to a paper covered previously at GMO Pundit:

• Green Revolution research saved an estimated 18 to 27 million hectares from being brought into agricultural production