Paraguay and Japan Launch Joint Project to Combat Wheat Blast

A strategic partnership between Paraguay and Japan has launched a $1.85 million initiative in San Lorenzo to combat wheat Pyricularia. This five-year project, funded by the Japanese government via the JICA-supported SATREPS program, aims to protect Paraguay’s wheat production—which saw 350,000 hectares sown and 1.2 million tons produced in the 2025 campaign—from a fungus capable of destroying 100% of yields in weeks.

Why is this project critical for food security?

The threat is immediate and severe. According to project director Professor Cynthia Saucedo, this pathogen doesn’t respect borders and has already triggered grave epidemics in Paraguay during 2002 and 2023.

Under favorable weather conditions, Pyricularia can wipe out an entire harvest in a matter of weeks. This volatility threatens the stability of a vital production chain that supports national agriculture and global food security.

Did You Know? This initiative marks the first time Paraguay has accessed the SATREPS mechanism, a high-level scientific cooperation program driven by the Government of Japan.

How will the scientific network fight the fungus?

The project creates a massive cooperation network. In Paraguay, the Facultad de Ciencias Químicas de la UNA and the Cámara Paraguaya de Exportadores y Comercializadores de Cereales y Oleaginosas serve as counterparts. They’re joined by the University of Kobe as a strategic partner, alongside the University of Kyoto, CEMIT, and the company GenePar.

General Manager Dr. Julio César Iehisa explained that the team will use “gene stacking” to incorporate multiple resistance genes into plants. This technique is essential because the fungus constantly adapts to survive.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that the move toward gene stacking represents a shift from reactive to proactive defense. By layering multiple genetic barriers, the project aims to outpace the evolutionary speed of the fungus, reducing the likelihood of a single mutation rendering a crop variety vulnerable.

What may happen next in the region?

Execution will focus on the Alto Paraná and Itapúa regions over the next five years. A possible next step involves the distribution of a specialized Integrated Management Manual to local producers.

If successful, the project could result in the widespread adoption of new, genetically resistant wheat varieties. This may lead to more stable yields for farmers and a more resilient agricultural economy in the face of future epidemics.

Core Project Components

Development of wheat varieties with higher genetic resistance.
Identification of high-efficiency seed treatments.
In-depth study of the pathogen’s epidemiology.
Direct transfer of technology to regional farmers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is being invested in the project?
Japan is providing a total investment of $1,850,000.

Which regions in Paraguay will be the primary focus?
The project will be executed in Alto Paraná and Itapúa.

What is the purpose of the “gene stacking” technique?
According to Dr. Julio César Iehisa, it is used to incorporate many resistance genes into plants to counter the fungus’s ability to adapt.

Do you think international scientific partnerships are the most effective way to secure global food supplies?