New varieties could increase wheat yield by 20% in a changing climate

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-03-08 03:00

Australia; ACT

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New wheat varieties, which can be sown deeper to protect them from heat and drought stress, may increase wheat yield by between 18 and 20 per cent, according to Aussie researchers. The team used modelling and field data to assess the ability of new wheat varieties under the climate conditions of the past 120 years. They found that the newer varieties could increase national wheat yield by between 18 and 20 per cent, and predict that this benefit would continue under a future warming climate.