A £7-million (US$11.4-million) research project into the genetic factors that affect wheat yields, plant size and resistance to drought and pests is hiring 17 researchers, including 8 postdocs, to work in molecular genetics, phenotyping and bioinformatics at centres around Britain. The project is the first of its kind in the country for more than 20 years, and is one of several worldwide. Researchers will build a database of genetic markers that can be used to create wheat varieties. The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council will fund three-year grants from April 2011, with the potential for extension.