SHARJAH, UAE, June 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sharjah has achieved a breakthrough in desert wheat cultivation, producing plants with protein levels nearly twice the global soft-wheat average and yields above international benchmarks, a result that researchers say marks significant progress in crop breeding for arid regions.
Second-generation plants from Sharjah's wheat development project recorded eight spikes per plant, surpassing the internationally recognised benchmark of seven. The crop achieved a protein content of 19.3%, placing it among the highest levels reported globally.
Standard soft wheat varieties typically contain between 10% and 13% protein, while durum wheat averages between 12% and 15%. At 19.3%, Sharjah's wheat falls into the premium category used for specialised food products, researchers said.
