'time bomb' for world wheat crop

The Ug99 fungus, called stem rust, could wipe out more than 80% of the world's wheat as it spreads from Africa, scientists fear. The race is on to breed resistant plants before it reaches the U.S.

Crop scientists fear the Ug99 fungus could wipe out more than 80% of worldwide wheat crops as it spreads from eastern Africa. It has already jumped the Red Sea and traveled as far as Iran. Experts say it is poised to enter the breadbasket of northern India and Pakistan, and the wind will inevitably carry it to Russia, China and even North America -- if it doesn't hitch a ride with people first.

"It's a time bomb," said Jim Peterson, a professor of wheat breeding and genetics at Oregon State University in Corvallis. "It moves in the air, it can move in clothing on an airplane. We know it's going to be here. It's a matter of how long it's going to take."


Though most Americans have never heard of it, Ug99 -- a type of fungus called stem rust because it produces reddish-brown flakes on plant stalks -- is the No. 1 threat to the world's most widely grown crop.

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico estimates that 19% of the world's wheat, which provides food for 1 billion people in Asia and Africa, is in imminent danger. American plant breeders say $10 billion worth of wheat would be destroyed if the fungus suddenly made its way to U.S. fields.

Fear that the fungus will cause widespread damage has caused short-term price spikes on world wheat markets. Famine has been averted thus far, but experts say it's only a matter of time.

"A significant humanitarian crisis is inevitable," said Rick Ward, the coordinator of the Durable Rust Resistance in Wheat project at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

Originally posted by silent thunder
The genetically modified crops are the most vulnerable of all because they are so genetically uniform...the right disease could slice through that stuff like butter.

t's not like GM crops were a new development and they still don't get the real underlying issue, which is the destruction of fertile soil. all else is really secondary when you think about it.

here's a list of several threads over the years, if anyone is interested - by no means complete !

Argentina's Bitter Harvest - GM crops turned sour

GM or Not to GM, Which?

Food for Thought

Monsanto GM crop fails in South Africa

The GM genocide: Thousands of Indian farmers are committing suicide after using genetically modified

GM Crops and the Coming Famine

2009 Will Be Year of Global Food Crisis

and last, but not least, related:

Soil Depletion & Micronutrient Deficiency

will these people pretend they didn't know, when there's more than a decade of experience with these things and their consequences? it's all about buying time, as i said, they do not adress the really pressing issues. while you are at it search for Codex Alimentarius on this site and see how it fits in.

Originally posted by Blaine91555
[
This has been brewing since 1999 apparently so if an article like this is hitting the MSM then it must be nearing the boiling point. I'm glad to see Gates took it seriously. If this gets out of control, we had better learn to grow rice in old wheat fields.

Originally posted by Blaine91555
Apparently they are making progress on this - Source Article



Sounds like they are getting close.