Wheat rust threatens world crop
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:36 am
Rust in the bread basket
A somewhat alarmist article (and similarly alarmist Subject to get your attention) from the Economist about "wheat rust" plaguing African countries, and threatening much of the middle east. Some interesting tidbits:
"It is sometimes called the “polio of agricultureâ€: a terrifying but almost forgotten disease. Wheat rust is not just back after a 50-year absence, but spreading in new and scary forms."
"Wheat rusts spread as billions of spores in the wind. They usually move incrementally, from field to adjoining field, needing wet weather to thrive. But they can make larger leaps. They also mutate as they go."
"Wheat is the world’s most widely planted crop and accounts for a fifth of humanity’s calorie intake (rice has a similar share; all other foods combined account for the rest)."
Where does brewing-quality wheat come from?
A somewhat alarmist article (and similarly alarmist Subject to get your attention) from the Economist about "wheat rust" plaguing African countries, and threatening much of the middle east. Some interesting tidbits:
"It is sometimes called the “polio of agricultureâ€: a terrifying but almost forgotten disease. Wheat rust is not just back after a 50-year absence, but spreading in new and scary forms."
"Wheat rusts spread as billions of spores in the wind. They usually move incrementally, from field to adjoining field, needing wet weather to thrive. But they can make larger leaps. They also mutate as they go."
"Wheat is the world’s most widely planted crop and accounts for a fifth of humanity’s calorie intake (rice has a similar share; all other foods combined account for the rest)."
Where does brewing-quality wheat come from?