GLOBAL WHEAT RESEARCH COMMUNITY CONVENES IN BOLOGNA PRIOR TO INTERNATIONAL WHEAT CONGRESS 2026

Bologna, Italy, 29 May 2026

The Wheat Initiative (WI) supported the global wheat science community before and throughout the 4th International Wheat Congress, (IWC2026Bologna) in Bologna, Italy, taking place from 25–29 May 2026. The congress brought together near to 800 leading researchers, policy makers, and industry representatives to advance international collaboration and innovation in wheat science.

Prior to the Congress the WI gathered international stakeholders of all three WI committees to hold their in-person meetings. Representatives of WI member countries, research organisations and industry representatives, the WI Scientific Board (SB), as well as the Chairs and Co-Chairs of the eleven Expert Working Groups, met to discuss advances, as well as gaps in wheat research and the contribution of the WI in supporting the Wheat Research Community. More than 40 representatives participated, connected and presented updates on their activities and advances.

Sylvie Cloutier (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Co-Chair of the SB of the WI, highlighted the importance of continued global collaboration in wheat science:

“The meetings of the WI Committees prior to the International Wheat Congress in Bologna play an important role in supporting the dialogue between researchers, policy makers, and stakeholders and help to align and leverage efforts at the global level. The discussions during the meeting highlighted the importance of shared scientific knowledge, long-term investment into collaborative research infrastructures, and coordination to strengthen resilient and sustainable wheat production systems worldwide.”

Chairs of eleven WI Expert Working Groups organised workshops along the IWC, supported by the WI, to increase scientific exchange, collaboration, and networking. The meetings and workshops together with the congress helped reinforcing the goal of ensuring global food security with thematic sessions, panel discussions and poster presentations, fostering interdisciplinary exchange across research domains. During the closing ceremony on the future direction of global wheat research took a spotlight and the next host of the 5th edition of the International Wheat Congress was presented, being Tunisia!

For inquiries, please contact: WHEAT INITIATIVE (wheat.initiative(a)julius-kuehn.de)

Programme Manager: Teresa Saavedra

Web: www.wheatinitiative.org