On 20 October 2026, the first workshop of the FONTAGRO project “Wheat Resilient to Climate Change” (ATN/RF-21535-RG) was held at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the National University of Rosario (FCA UNR) in Zavalla, Argentina.

The meeting brought together students, farmers, agronomists and researchers from the participating institutions. They presented the project objectives, shared progress on the research activities and discussed the main challenges that heat stress and drought pose for wheat production.

Santiago Álvarez Prado opened the day with words of welcome. Dr. Santiago Tamagno (project coordinator, University of Lleida, Spain) then presented the project, its objectives and its main planned activities.

The technical program included a talk by Andrés Berger (INIA Uruguay) on past and future climate trends and their potential effects on wheat yield, particularly under drought and heat stress events. Dr. Roxana Savin (University of Lleida, Spain) spoke about the response of wheat to heat waves, both under field conditions and under controlled heat treatments using polyethylene tents.

Santiago Álvarez Prado (FCA UNR) then presented the characterization of commercial wheat varieties and their response to changes in water availability. Finally, Federico Barnada presented crop management options for water stress scenarios.

The talks allowed the research teams to exchange knowledge and experience and to build a common basis for carrying out the project activities.

Videos of the presentations

All workshop presentations are available on YouTube (in Spanish):

• Santiago Tamagno: Introduction, description and objectives of the project

• Andrés Berger: Climate trends and potential effects of drought and heat stress on wheat yield

• Roxana Savin: Wheat response to heat waves in the field and under controlled treatments

• Santiago Álvarez Prado: Characterization of commercial wheat varieties and their response to changes in water availability

• Federico Barnada: Management options for water stress scenarios in wheat

The workshop was a first opportunity for project participants to meet and coordinate. It strengthened collaboration among the institutions in Argentina, Uruguay and Spain as they work toward wheat production that is more resilient to climate change.