Riyadh: The National Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture (Estidamah) has developed two new wheat varieties that showed promising results in productivity and irrigation water-use efficiency during initial field trials. The research achievement aims to boost production of one of the Kingdom's key strategic crops and support food security.

According to Saudi Press Agency, preliminary trial results indicated that the first variety recorded a yield of 9.8 tons per hectare, which is 40% higher than the commercial wheat variety most widely cultivated in Saudi Arabia. It also reduced irrigation water use by 15%.

The second variety recorded a yield of 8.6 tons per hectare, representing a 23% increase over the comparable commercial variety. It reduced irrigation water use by 24.2%.

Both varieties demonstrated positive agricultural characteristics, including high productivity, lodging resistance, and suitability for local growing conditions. These characteristics could help improve wheat production efficiency and reduce crop losses.

Research trials are ongoing to verify the stability of the two varieties' performance and assess their productivity under different environmental and agricultural conditions. The remaining scientific and technical stages of the project are also being completed.