Brazil: Embrapa Trigo celebrates 50 years of history

On October 28, Embrapa Trigo celebrates 50 years of contributions to the development of wheat in Brazil. Over the course of five decades, more than 200 cultivars have been developed, in addition to research results that have increased crop yields, promoted pest and disease control, reduced production costs and determined the quality standard for Brazilian wheat. Some of these results were recalled during an internal ceremony at Embrapa Trigo headquarters in Passo Fundo, RS. The National Wheat Research Center was created in 1974 by the Federal Government with the aim of reducing Brazil's dependence on wheat imports. From the correction of acidic soils in the Southern Region to adjustments to define the best growing season, research has gone from yields of around 500 kg/ha in the 1970s to an average of 3,000 kg/year in the 2000s. Frustrations with losses due to frost, pests and diseases have been reduced over the years until the current challenge of resilience to climate change. ...