the Symposium on Wheats for More Tropical Environments - cimmyt

1 9PrefaceThe international workshop onWheats for More TropicalEnvironments was held in MexicoCity September 24-28. 1984. Thiswas <strong>the</strong> first attempt to bringtoge<strong>the</strong>r wheat scientists from allover <strong>the</strong> world to search for solutionsto <strong>the</strong> problems which face farmersin more tropical areas who seek togrow wheat outside of its traditionalenvironments.As a result of growing urbanpopulations and rising incomes in<strong>the</strong> tropics. bread is becoming astaple food for more and morepeople. For many developingnations. this has led to an increaseddependency on wheat imports and<strong>the</strong> accompanying foreign exchangedrain.In answer to a request by <strong>the</strong> CGIARto look for ways to decrease thisdependency, CIMMYT. with <strong>the</strong>assistance of <strong>the</strong> United NationsDevelopment Programme (UNDP).has begun emphasizing <strong>the</strong>development of wheats adapted to<strong>the</strong> stress conditions of <strong>the</strong> moretropical environments.It is hoped that this workshop willlead to an increased participation incollaborative research efforts on <strong>the</strong>part of wheat scientists from manycountries so that. by workingtoge<strong>the</strong>r. one more battle may bewon in <strong>the</strong> war on hunger.Reynaldo L. VUlarealArthur R. KlattTechnical Editors