How is triticale used now?

• Triticale is now planted on approximately ten million acres (four million hectares) worldwide for grain production alone.
• It also is widely used as a forage, and as a cover crop for soil health.
• In North America triticale is primarily used for forage.
• In other parts of the world it is primarily used for feed grain and biofuel.
• Triticale is beginning to be used more widely in food.

Why are opportunities and needs greater than ever for using triticale for food?

Greater opportunities . . .

Our food system is changing in ways that are creating opportunities for the use of triticale for food.

• Consumers increasingly are looking for more flavorful, healthful, and novel breads and other foods made with grain.
• Markets for bread and other grain-based products are becoming more diverse. The number and size of niches where triticale can gain momentum as a food grain are increasing.

Meanwhile researchers and innovative practitioners are producing a wide array of desirable food products with triticale.  And the quality of triticale grain for food uses continues to be improved.

Greater needs . . .

As worldwide demand for food increases, we will need to produce more food while using fewer natural resources and having less impact on the environment.

• Triticale can help accomplish that because of its vigor and productivity.

We also need to address public health problems associated with unbalanced diets.

• Whole grain triticale can help accomplish that because of its healthful dietary fiber, antioxidants, mineral composition, high quality protein, and other attributes like a natural sweetness that can replace added sugar.