The Wheat Initiative (WI) was created to provide a framework to establish strategic research and organization priorities for wheat research at the international level in all countries involved in wheat production. Under the WI, Expert Working Groups (EWG) to address diverse wheat topics were established, seeking for the benefit of bringing together experts to focus on topics of relevance to the WI’s aims and objectives. Our EWG on improving wheat quality for processing and health was established in 2015, aimed at maintaining and improving wheat quality under diverse environmental conditions. Our expert group focuses on wheat quality in the broad sense, including seed proteins, allergens, carbohydrates, nutrition including micronutrients, processing, and food safety. We also work to share genetic resources and unify gene nomenclature to support these topics.

This EWG has already prepared reference cultivar sets (Master Set), representing the low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit alleles of bread and durum wheat. These sets are now available at the CIMMYT gene bank (http://wgb.cimmyt.org/gringlobal/search.aspx). We also collaborate with other EWGs: we had a joint meeting with the Wheat Information System EWG to fill the gap between genetics (the Wheat Gene Catalogue) and genomics databases, and some of our members are working with the Durum Wheat Genomics and Breeding EWG to characterize quality of their durum core collection. We are also working on: 1. Developing Master Sets for particular quality traits, including dietary fiber type and contents, grain hardness and low allergen content; 2. Developing a protocol repository that leads to inter-laboratory trials, including SDS-PAGE protocols to identify durum Glu-3 subunits; 3. Collecting and analyzing a previously established gliadin master set; 4. Building connections between the Wheat Gene Catalogue and genome resources; 5. Studying biocontrol strategies to reduce the entry of mycotoxins to food and feed chains; 6. Publishing a book reviewing wheat grain quality topics. At this meeting we would like to discuss with participants our priorities in these fields and the further promotion of international collaboration.