Breeding new varieties of wheat. Some of the most important advances in the history of wheat have resulted from the scientific breeding of wheat during the 1900's. By developing new varieties of wheat, plant breeders have greatly increased the yield of wheat per acre or hectare of land. Some varieties have higher yields because they can resist diseases or pests. Others mature early, enabling the grain to escape such dangers as early frosts and late droughts.

During the mid-1900's, agricultural scientists led a worldwide effort to boost grain production in developing countries. This effort was so successful that it has been called the Green Revolution. Its success depended primarily on the use of high-yield grains. In 1970, American agricultural scientist Norman E. Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for wheat research that led to the development of these varieties.

The Green Revolution reduced the danger of famine in many developing countries. It helped these countries become less dependent upon imported wheat for their growing population. It also helped focus attention on obstacles to increasing the world's food supply. For example, water supplies are often limited and soils are of poor quality. Many farmers cannot afford irrigation systems or the large amounts of fertilizers and pesticides the new grains require. In some developing countries, grain can be damaged or spoiled by insects, rodents, poor transportation, and poor distribution systems. Finally, in many countries, the population is growing faster than the food supply, offsetting the gains achieved by the Green Revolution.

Excerpt from the "Wheat" article, The World Book Encyclopedia © 1999