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Current projects

Wheat Breeding Platform

Primary Institution: Stellenbosch University
Principal Investigators: Lezaan Hess & Cecile Bester
Collaborators: ARC-SG: V Tolmay, K Coetzee, and IC Heyns 
Syngenta: F Koekemoer, S De Groot, and D Lesch 

Why It Matters

South Africa’s wheat industry faces the dual challenge of ensuring high-quality grain while improving yield to enhance national self-sufficiency.

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Historically, breeding efforts have emphasized quality at the expense of productivity, leaving yield gains stagnant. The Wheat Breeding Platform (WBP) at Stellenbosch University responds to this challenge by focusing on pre-breeding. Introducing novel genetic traits from global and local germplasm into wheat lines adapted to South African conditions. By making improved germplasm accessible to breeding companies, the platform strengthens food security, builds resilience to climate pressures, and supports the long-term sustainability of the local wheat sector.

Research Approach

The WBP integrates advanced breeding techniques with broad collaborations across public and private partners.

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Work packages focus on germplasm characterisation, wide crosses with wild relatives, marker-assisted recurrent selection (MS-MARS), and ex-situ conservation of indigenous wheat relatives. Field trials are conducted across multiple sites to ensure adaptability and yield stability. Marker-assisted selection accelerates trait discovery and incorporation, while international partnerships provide access to global gene banks and next-generation genomic tools. The project also invests heavily in capacity building, training undergraduate, postgraduate, and postdoctoral researchers, ensuring a pipeline of skilled plant breeders and geneticists for South Africa.

Research Impact To Farmers

Farmers benefit directly from the WBP through access to higher-yielding, resilient wheat germplasm distributed annually to breeding programmes.

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This germplasm, developed under South African conditions, provides the foundation for cultivars that perform better under local environmental stresses such as drought and salinity. By improving yield stability and productivity without compromising grain quality, the platform aims to reduce reliance on imported wheat, enhances profitability for producers, and strengthens food security. The WBP also fosters innovation by building strong public-private partnerships, ensuring that new knowledge and technologies are shared across the value chain to benefit the entire wheat industry.