Scientists recently discovered the road map to wheat’s genome, which means they now have the information needed to build and maintain the wheat organism. The task was achieved through a worldwide collaboration of researchers that spanned 13 years.

Now that scientists know the genes and factors responsible for traits such as wheat’s genome yield, grain quality, resistance to fungal diseases, and tolerance to environmental stress, they can use this information to produce hardier wheat varieties.

Agriculture Victoria honorary research fellow Professor Rudi Appels told The Guardian that the discovery could eventually help to diagnose and treat wheat-related allergies and diseases, and to produce wheat crops with a lower level of the proteins identified as responsible for making some people sick.