Experts in genomics and bioinformatics from four world-leading, UK-based institutes: TGAC, John Innes Centre (JIC), European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) and Rothamsted Research, came together to present the state-of-the-art publicly available wheat genomic data sets which have the potential to accelerate traditional crop improvement methods. The workshop, led by the Scientific Committee, gave participants the opportunity to both learn about the new resources and to influence the direction of these developments.

Supported by the BBSRC strategic longer and larger (sLoLa) grant award, the project is a major UK contribution to the international effort to sequence the bread wheat genome, identifying genetic variation and ensuring the DNA data and analysis is open to global users.

As an essential food crop for human existence, sustainable wheat production is a critical scientific objective. An increase in global demand alongside long-term production problems in major cultivator areas caused by drought, among other constraints, has triggered new breeding programmes to include a much wider range of genetic diversity into the agricultural industry.

Having access to genomic tools which enable the exploration of the bread wheat genome will significantly accelerate the crop’s progress in breeding and gene discovery, and therefore, play a key part in the Global Food Security Programme.

Sarah Ayling, Group Leader of Computational Genomics at TGAC, said: “The workshop was an excellent opportunity for us to demonstrate the genomic tools and resources available to wheat breeders and researchers, and receive feedback about the types of features which the users would like to see added next.”