Wheat Competitiveness
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s baseline projections for wheat from 2005-2014 opens with the following commentary: “The U.S. wheat sector is facing challenges to its
long-term profitability. Planted area in the United States has dropped as wheat loses
its competitiveness to other U.S. crops, particularly soybeans and corn. Domestic food use of wheat has declined in recent years as a result of changing consumer preferences and improved bread preservation technology."
In June 2006 the North American Millers' Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, U.S. Wheat Associates and the Wheat Export Trade Education Committee released "Addressing the Competitiveness Crisis in Wheat," a paper outlining recommendations for improving the competitiveness of wheat. The paper called for a Wheat Summit.
Wheat Summit I
In September 2006 the North American Millers' Association and the National Association of Wheat Growers hosted the first Wheat Summit to develop ideas and policies to address the competitiveness of wheat. The Summit included representatives of every part of the "wheat chain," from producers to processors, from transportation interests to grocery stores. At the conclusion of the Summit, the parties agreed to focus on four areas: technology and research; domestic competitiveness, primarily for growing acres; domestic farm policy; and export markets.
Wheat Summit II
In 2007 the wheat chain met again for Wheat Summit II. In addition to the wheat chain, representatives of input providers (seed, traits, crop protection) and grain transportation also participated in the meeting. Several agencies of USDA participated in the discussions but abstained from taking a position on the policy recommendations of the Summit.
Four work groups were formed -- Domestic Competitiveness, Domestic Farm Policy, Exports Transportation & Infrastructure, and Research & Technology. At the conclusion of Wheat Summit II, Wheat Summit Statements were published, representing the majority opinion of each working group.
Wheat Summit III
The North American Millers' Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Wheat Improvement Committee, Grain Growers of Canada, and Agrifood Awareness Australia participated in the third Wheat Summit in 2009. Discussion centered on wheat's competitiveness challenges around the world, what the industry is doing to address this issue, how biotechnology can aid in achieving robust yield growth goals, and recent wheat research developments.
The coalition conluded that biotech wheat that is tolerant of drought, stress, heat, and cold will be the best tool in creating higher-yielding crops to feed the world's growing population. Read the Wheat Biotechnology Commercialization Statement of Canadian, American and Australian Wheat Organizations.
Last updated February 15, 2011
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