abstract
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Global and integrated networks for disseminating and evaluating genetic resources play a critical role in addressing global challenges such as food security and climate change. The International Wheat Improvement Network (IWIN) continues to be the primary source of wheat lines for use as parents or release as varieties, freely distributed as global public goods to both public and private-sector partners worldwide. IWIN is formed by a worldwide community of collaborative wheat scientists and breeders testing approximately 1,000 new improved wheat lines per year at over 200 field sites. Working closely with national and regional breeding programs ensures an enhanced information flow, contributing to the user-driven dynamic of this network. The free access and exchange of germplasm, knowledge, and information, e.g., genotypic characterization, facilitate the selection of superior lines used in crossing programs or tested for direct release to farmers. This presentation will describe how current advances in genomics, informatics, modeling, and machine learning tools are being implemented to allow for quicker turnaround and use of data, robust multilocation analyses, and more efficient dissemination and use of diverse genetic resources for wheat breeding for crucial traits.