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The WBP has made significant contributions to the breeding programmes of the three local breeding
companies, namely Syngenta, Corteva and the Agricultural Research Council – Small Grains (ARC-SG).
Stellenbosch University collaborates locally and internationally to promote wheat
breeding in South Africa and to access diverse germplasm from international sources.
Germplasm obtained is characterised genotypically and phenotypically to enable
crosses to be made to deliver pre-breeding material with the potential for higher
yield, adaptation to local conditions and other desired traits, for example, disease
resistance. The WBP has significantly contributed to the wheat industry, as breed-
ers have access to high-yielding germplasm that can be used to further develop
cultivars that can increase the production of wheat in South Africa.
CONTRIBUTION TO AGRICULTURE
Over 1 200 entries were distributed to each of the recipient seed companies over the past five years.
The ARC-SG, Corteva and Syngenta all took up 2022 nursery material from the pre-breeding germ-
plasm and also indicated that multiple selections had been made from the 2021 nursery and that
historical selections (prior to 2021) were still being used in their programmes. This consortium is a key
component of improving wheat production in South Africa. The programme has made important contri-
butions to local wheat breeding programmes and to building plant breeding capacity in South Africa.
Plant Health Consortium
Summer grains play an essential role in both the food security and in the economy of South Africa.
Pests and diseases hamper the optimal production of these crops. The outcome of agricultural
research and development (R&D) can support significant gains in agricultural productivity by revealing
the best strategies for the management of these threats. Therefore, the Plant Health Consortium (PHC)
fosters collaboration between the research community, the government and industry stakeholders to
address national priorities such as food security and sustainable production.
TABLE 2
Overview of the Plant Health Consortium
OBJECTIVE
SUBOBJECTIVE
PARTNERS
Conducting surveys of the summer
grain production region to identify
prominent pests and diseases
Conducting pest and disease surveys ARC, UP, NWU,
CropWatch Africa
Providing diagnostic and extension
services to producers
UP, ARC, NWU,
CropWatch Africa
Reducing build-up of soilborne pests
and disease inoculum
Developing improved strategies for
plant protection
UFS, NWU, UWC
Providing support to the regulators
on biosecurity issues
Establishing a biosecurity hub to
cooperate with the DALRRD and
coordinate the participation of the
industry in biosecurity efforts
DALRRD, DSI,
CropWatch Africa,
GSA, UP, UFS,
PhytoSolutions
Consultancy
THE NATIONAL GRAIN RESEARCH PROGRAMME
The National Grain Research Programme
(NGRP) is made possible by collaboration
between the government, the industry and
research institutions. The NGRP is established
to drive solution-oriented, industry-relevant
research through multidisciplinary and multi-
institutional collaboration. A board consisting
of relevant stakeholders from the industry, the
government and academia has been estab-
lished and the first research day was held on
9 May 2022. Current activities are focused
on assembling an overview of current research
initiatives at public research institutes.
RESEARCH COORDINATION