Wheat Self-Sufficiency Requires Sustainably Closing the Yield Gap in CWANA

Found in flatbreads, loaves, bulgur, freekeh, and couscous, wheat is a regional staple woven into the culture, nutrition, and economic stability of millions across Central and West Asia, and North Africa (CWANA). Yet, the combination of growing populations, climate change, and water scarcity has left many countries importing over 40% of their wheat supply, with some as much as 100%. Our research at ICARDA, under the Scaling for Impact (S4I) and Sustainable Farming Program (SFP), focuses on bridging the widening yield gap, the difference between what farmers currently produce and what is attainable under optimal rainfed or irrigated conditions using good agronomic practices (GAP). These practices, such as timely planting, recommended seed and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) fertilizer rates, resilient crop varieties, and conservation agriculture, offer a science-backed route to food self-sufficiency and resilience in the region.