Emails: s.bhavani@cgiar.org*; godwin.macharia@kalro.org; n.qureshi@cgiar.org; B.Abeyo@cgiar.org

The East African Wheat Breeding Pipeline, initiated in 2022 through a joint program by CIMMYT and KALRO, strives to enhance wheat varieties for regional food security. This integrated breeding pipeline, a collaboration between CGIAR and NARES Partner, focuses on accelerated breeding, employing a 3-year Rapid Generation Bulk Advancement scheme and data-driven selection for informed breeding decisions. It aims to develop and release improved wheat varieties adapted to East African conditions, addressing gaps in yield potential, disease resistance, and climate resilience.

The pipeline utilizes an expanded testing network across Kenya and Ethiopia, driving impactful breeding programs for enhanced farm productivity. It tackles diseases like rust, fusarium, septoria, and wheat blast, particularly challenging in Kenya. Climate-adaptive varieties are developed, tested in marginal rainfed environments experiencing heat and drought stress.

The collaboration's success with KALRO, spanning four decades, includes the Mexico-Kenya shuttle breeding approach, releasing over 200 varieties and mitigating stem rust threats. Strategic partnerships with Agventure address critical gaps, facilitating yield testing and identifying high-performing lines.

Investments in KALRO's infrastructure and capacity building through training and shared resources improve yield potential. A recent training course covered essential topics in wheat breeding and research. Supporting initiatives include plant health, market intelligence, and seed equality, emphasizing the importance of regional collaboration, knowledge sharing, and strategic investments for addressing critical challenges in wheat production.