Year Awarded 2022
FFAR award amount $835,889
Total award amount $2,037,107
Location Pullman, WA
Program Seeding Solutions
Matching Funders EnviroLogix, HighLine Grain Growers, The McGregor Company, Washington Grain Commission, Washington State University, The Wheat Marketing Center
Grantee Institution Washington State University
High levels of alpha-amylase protein in wheat can lead to a low falling number score, a factor that determines the quality and price of wheat. Because alpha-amylase digests starch, wheat with a low falling number score produces flour with lower gelling capacity, causing cakes that fall or sticky bread and noodles, and significantly lowering the price growers receive. If growers cannot detect wheat with a low falling number, the wheat may mix with sound wheat on farms, in grain elevators or during transport, essentially compromising the entire bushel. Washington State University researchers are developing a faster, cheaper and more accurate test that measures alpha-amylase on farms and in elevators, preventing mixing of low and high falling number wheat.