Progress 01/01/24 to 12/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Our main stakeholders are wheat growers, end-users, breeders, and nutritionists that are interested in improving the nutritional value of white flour products. Our research objective is to increase arabinoxylan content in wheat to increase the amount of dietary fiber consumed each day without requiring a change in consumption habits. To reach this goal, we must connect with stakeholders in each part of the wheat value chain to communicate the potential benefits of increased nutrition and value, as well as changes to wheat end-use quality that must be addressed. This conference grant supported outreach to researchers interested in initiating wheat arabinoxylan research, growers interested in learning about the potential value to their farms and families and milling and baking companies that can utilize high fiber wheat in their products. Changes/Problems:NA end of Grant What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?25 people (3 students) registered for the in-person workshop and 16 (6 students) registered for virtual participation. Two students were funded to attend the 2024 Wheat Quality Council meeting the following day. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We are disseminating our conclusions from the discussions at the Opportunities and Risks workshop via a white paper with 51 co-authors titled "A Paradigm to Transform the Global Food Supply: Coordinating Nutrient Research and Health Policy to Fight Chronic Disease". This was submitted to Nature Food and invited to revise and resubmit as a comment article. This revision is in progress. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?NA end of Grant
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The objectives of this conference were 1) describe tools, methods, and metrics available for optimizing selection of increased fiber in wheat, 2) identify challenges, gaps, and emerging areas of research connecting the plant breeding and food research communities 3) develop a white paper describing methods and criteria to increase grain fiber for human health and address Goals 4, 5, 2, and 1 of the current USDA Strategic Plan. The agenda of the conference consisted of 3 speakers (Drs. Itria Ibba, Katherine Frels, and Rod Wallace) introducing the goals and timeline for the Coalition for Grain Fiber and one plenary speaker (Dr. Sean Finnie) who introduced wheat arabinoxylan research and the impact of arabinoxylans on nutrition and end-use quality. These presentations were followed by panel discussions from wheat stakeholders including milling, baking, and quality experts and wheat grower representatives to highlight the challenges, gaps, and emerging areas of research in wheat nutrition and discuss how to engage stakeholders in developing new high fiber wheat. Each in-person student attendee gave a 5-minute presentation of their research. The workshop ended with a group discussion of the most important insights from the day. These insights are summarized below: The workshop identified the steps to generating a paradigm shift in wheat breeding to enhance public health focus through the commercialization of high-fiber wheat varieties (particularly those enriched with arabinoxylan, AX). The vision is to integrate these health-enhancing wheats into the commodity chain, supported by aligned financial incentives for farmers. Goals Short to mid-term goal: Commercialize high-fiber (particularly arabinoxylan-enriched) wheat varieties, while aligning financial incentives across the wheat supply chain to support production of these varieties that will improve public health. Long term goal: Use wheat as a cost-effective delivery system to reduce chronic diseases and healthcare costs, potentially unlocking $250 billion in public health value. Foundation- What we know Scientific studies indicate no negative yield impact from increased AX, with positive implications for bread quality and gut health, making wheat an effective vehicle for dietary fiber. The approach builds on known genetic variation such as Yumai 34 and Valoris. However, more genetic variation is needed for breeders to make greater improvements. Ideas generated- insights from panel discussions Farmers love the concept of the healthy food production messaging and the potential earnings from this, however, they aren't sure how financial incentives could work in this context. Identity preserved varieties is an acceptable first step to deploy high fiber wheat in a controlled manner. Need to evaluate infrastructure. Use hard white wheat as a case study. Next steps- What we need to develop or mitigate Stakeholder engagement is critical, with focus on farmers, millers, bakers, nutritionists, regulators, and government entities. Clear communication and risk management are essential to success. Key risks include insufficient communication, supply chain complexity, and the need for stepwise, coordinated implementation to avoid the pitfalls seen in prior efforts like white wheat promotion. Immediate next steps include scientific assessments of baking quality and total dietary fiber, initiate farmer engagement, and scheduled workshops to address all aspects of product development. This will advance alignment and readiness across the wheat value chain. We presented the summary of our workshop at the 2024 Wheat Quality Council Meeting. This presentation reached 135 attendees representing wheat breeders, milling and baking companies, state wheat commissions, and other wheat researchers. In it, we highlighted advanced in wheat arabinoxylan research and key points identified in the Opportunities and Risks workshops. We utilized this presentation to connect with additional milling and baking stakeholders who had not previously learned about our efforts to increase dietary fiber consumption through wheat improvement. Following these events we worked with all interested scientists to develop a white paper "A Paradigm to Transform the Global Food Supply: Coordinating Nutrient Research and Health Policy to Fight Chronic Disease" the abstract is pasted below: Nations can reduce chronic disease by shifting the public health paradigm using the "food as health" concept by developing plant- and animal-based commodities with healthier nutrient profiles resulting in reduced healthcare costs, increased supplier profit, and enhanced population health. For example, wheat with greater arabinoxylan fiber content in whole grain foods and refined can be bred. As farmers switch to more nutritious wheat cultivars, the dietary fiber content is increased in wheat-based foods that compose 20% of American and global diets. Risk factors for chronic heart disease and diabetes type II reduce. While impact will depend on actual diets, nutrition models forecast that policy supporting wheat with increased fiber would reduce cardiovascular disease risk by 1-3% and type 2 diabetes risk by 3-4·5%, for a net present value exceeding $250 billion in the US alone. Delivering on this value requires investing in improving raw commodities and related research.
Publications
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Progress 01/01/24 to 12/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Our main stakeholders are wheat growers, end-users, breeders, and nutritionists that are interested in improving the nutritional value of white flour products. Our research objective is to increase arabinoxylan content in wheat to increase the amount of dietary fiber consumed each day without requiring a change in consumption habits. To reach this goal, we must connect with stakeholders in each part of the wheat value chain to communicate the potential benefits of increased nutrition and value, as well as changes to wheat end-use quality that must be addressed. This conference grant supported outreach to researchers interested in initiating wheat arabinoxylan research, growers interested in learning about the potential value to their farms and families and milling and baking companies that can utilize high fiber wheat in their products. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?25 people (3 students) registered for the in-person workshop and 16 (6 students) registered for virtual participation. Two students were funded to attend the 2024 Wheat Quality Council meeting the following day. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We are disseminating our conclusions from the discussions at the Opportunities and Risks workshop via a white paper with 51 co-authors titled "A Paradigm to Transform the Global Food Supply: Coordinating Nutrient Research and Health Policy to Fight Chronic Disease". This was submitted to Nature Food and invited to revise and resubmit as a comment article. This is in progress. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The agenda of the conference consisted of 3 speakers, Drs. Itria Ibba (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)), Katherine Frels (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), and Rod Wallace (Foundation for Innovation in Healthy Food) introducing the goals and timeline for the Coalition for Grain Fiber and one plenary speaker, Dr. Sean Finnie (USDA-ARS) who introduced wheat arabinoxylan research and the impact of arabinoxylans on nutrition and end-use quality. These presentations were followed by panel discussions moderated by Dr. Frels and Ibba, who discussedthe challenges, gaps, and emerging areas of research in wheat nutrition with wheat stakeholders including milling, baking, and quality experts and wheat grower representatives. Engagingstakeholders in the effort developing new high fiber wheat before varieties are available for sale was an additional topic of interest. Each student attendee gave a 5-minute presentation of their research. The workshop ended with a group discussion led by Dr. Frels to determine the most important insights from the day. These insights are summarized below: The workshop identified the steps to generating a paradigm shift in wheat breeding to enhance public health focus through the commercialization of high-fiber wheat varieties (particularly those enriched with arabinoxylan, AX). The vision is to integrate these health-enhancing wheats into the commodity chain, supported by aligned financial incentives for farmers. Goals · Short to mid-term goal: Commercialize high-fiber (particularly arabinoxylan-enriched) wheat varieties, while aligning financial incentives across the wheat supply chain to support production of these varieties that will improve public health. · Long term goal: Use wheat as a cost-effective delivery system to reduce chronic diseases and healthcare costs, potentially unlocking $250 billion in public health value. Foundation- What we know · Scientific studies indicate no negative yield impact from increased AX, with positive implications for bread quality and gut health, making wheat an effective vehicle for dietary fiber. · The approach builds on known genetic variation such as Yumai 34 and Valoris. However, more genetic variation is needed for breeders to make greater improvements. Ideas generated- insights from panel discussions Farmers love the concept of the healthy food production messaging and the potential earnings from this, however, they aren't sure how financial incentives could work in this context. Identity preserved varieties is an acceptable first step to deploy high fiber wheat in a controlled manner. Need to evaluate infrastructure. Use hard white wheat as a case study. Next steps- What we need to develop or mitigate · Stakeholder engagement is critical, with focus on farmers, millers, bakers, nutritionists, regulators, and government entities. Clear communication and risk management are essential to success. · Key risks include insufficient communication, supply chain complexity, and the need for stepwise, coordinated implementation to avoid the pitfalls seen in prior efforts like white wheat promotion. · Immediate next steps include scientific assessments of baking quality and total dietary fiber, initiate farmer engagement, and scheduled workshops to address all aspects of product development. This will advance alignment and readiness across the wheat value chain. We presented the summary of our workshop at the 2024 Wheat Quality Council Meeting. This presentation reached 135 attendees representing wheat breeders, milling and baking companies, state wheat commissions, and other wheat researchers. In it, we highlighted advanced in wheat arabinoxylan research and key points identified in the Opportunities and Risks workshops. We utilized this presentation to connect with additional milling and baking stakeholders who had not previously learned about our efforts to increase dietary fiber consumption through wheat improvement. Following these events we worked with all interested scientists to develop a white paper "A Paradigm to Transform the Global Food Supply: Coordinating Nutrient Research and Health Policy to Fight Chronic Disease" the abstract is pasted below: Nations can reduce chronic disease by shifting the public health paradigm using the "food as health" concept by developing plant- and animal-based commodities with healthier nutrient profiles resulting in reduced healthcare costs, increased supplier profit, and enhanced population health. For example, wheat with greater arabinoxylan fiber content in whole grain foods and refined can be bred. As farmers switch to more nutritious wheat cultivars, the dietary fiber content is increased in wheat-based foods that compose 20% of American and global diets. Risk factors for chronic heart disease and diabetes type II reduce. While impact will depend on actual diets, nutrition models forecast that policy supporting wheat with increased fiber would reduce cardiovascular disease risk by 1-3% and type 2 diabetes risk by 3-4·5%, for a net present value exceeding $250 billion in the US alone. Delivering on this value requires investing in improving raw commodities and related research.
Publications
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