IGP Institute Hosts U.S. Wheat Core Competency Seminar

Participants representing Morocco, Mexico, South Korea, Chile, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, Netherlands, Philippines, and the United States received additional training on a variety of topics to strengthen their overall skills and knowledge related to producing and exporting U.S. wheat to buyers around the world.

The group met with a panel of university and industry wheat breeders and geneticists who presented the science behind creating new varieties of wheat. Additionally, participants learned aspects of how different wheat varieties affect mill streaming and the various types of flour used for baking cookies, crackers, and bread.

The course included a discussion of the U.S. Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) and provided an overview of the whet inspection and certification process.

Group members also presented individual lectures on topics related to their overseas operations and received an overview of the current global wheat market and the challenges presented by potential disruptions in production due to weather, logistics, and the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Participants enjoyed field trips to several locations in Manhattan outside of the IGP Institute including the Engrain baking lab facility where they tested varieties of wheat flour from different countries to see the effects on bread quality.

They also toured K-State’s Hal Ross Flour Mill and the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center greenhouse and labs for a look at the cutting-edge techniques used in creating new varieties of wheat that feature desirable traits featuring high yields, good baking qualities, disease resistance, and drought tolerance.

Aaron Harries, Vice President of Research and Operations for the Kansas Wheat Commission said, "U.S. Wheat Associates technical staff could be considered the overseas marketing personnel for every wheat farmer in Kansas. It is a rare and valuable opportunity to interact personally with this group of talented people, and we appreciate U.S. Wheat Associates for making this technical course possible."

Prior to arriving at IGP, the group had visited the Wheat Marketing Center in Portland, Oregon, and the Northern Crops Institute in Fargo, North Dakota where they learned about new research and training being used to achieve the highest-quality products for all involved in the wheat supply chain from producers to millers, bakers, and individual consumers.

The entire two-week educational trip was funded through support from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and checkoff dollars from 17 state wheat commissions.

This is one example of the many customized grain processing and flour milling courses offered by the IGP Institute. In addition, the IGP Institute provides training in the areas of feed manufacturing and grain quality management, and grain marketing and risk management. To learn more about training opportunities at the IGP Institute, visit www.grains.k-state.edu/igp