Wheat breeding approaches for designing wheat to thrive in a warmer world

Societal Impact Statement Wheat is a vital food crop, accounting for approximately 20% of daily calories and protein consumed worldwide. However, modern‐day wheat is under pressure from global change. The improvement rate of wheat yields is not keeping up with the demand of our growing population. Furthermore, abiotic and biotic stressors are becoming more prevalent. This paper outlines the breeding approaches of landraces, synthetic lines and wheat wild relatives, relating them to improving and/or protecting wheat yields in a warming world. This work will empower a wider audience to contribute to global food security via wheat breeding, shaping climate‐ready agriculture for future generations. Summary Wheat accounts for approximately 20% of calories consumed worldwide. It is one of the most traded food commodities globally and is vital for people on our planet, providing both nutrition and trade. However, global change is asking major questions about our wheat production systems. The predicted increase in our global population and the reduction in the improvement rate of wheat yields versus wheat demand are forming an increasing yield gap. Furthermore, this yield gap is compounded by climate change and farming practices. Our planet is getting warmer, and extreme weather events are increasing, potentially reducing or destroying wheat yields. Worryingly, it is predicted that for every 1°C rise in global temperature, wheat yields will reduce by 6%. One approach to addressing these challenges is to breed hexaploid bread wheat lines that can cope with increased abiotic and biotic stressors, protecting or increasing wheat yields. Thus, this article will focus on the implementation of wheat breeding strategies under the growing threat of heat stress. Improvements to bread wheat heat tolerance in an increasingly warming world will be given as examples. However, wheat breeding can address many other challenges, such as water usage and disease. We will outline approaches such as landraces, synthetic hexaploid wheat, and wheat wild relatives, providing an overview for stakeholders outside the wheat breeding community.