Newly Discovered Fungus Threatens World Wheat Crop 236
RickRussellTX writes "The UN reports that a variety of the rust fungus originally detected in Uganda in 1999 has already spread as far north as Iran, threatening wheat production across its range. The fungus infects wheat stems and affects 80% of wheat varieties, putting crops at risk and threatening the food sources for billions of people across central Asia. Although scientists believe they can develop resistant hybrids, the fungus is moving much faster than anticipated and resistant hybrids may still be years away. Meanwhile, national governments in the path of the fungus are telling folks that there is nothing to worry about."
Boom! (Score:5, Funny)
Some fungi are delicious.
just eat it (Score:4, Funny)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_smut [wikipedia.org]
uh... never mind
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergot [wikipedia.org]
Oh, no! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Strains (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Oh, no! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:We'll be fine (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Oh, no! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:panic merchants seek attention, news a 11 (Score:5, Funny)
100 years is too long. Hardly anyone lives that long, and nobody has time to read about all that has gone on before, and even if they did, they wouldn't be doing anything, they'd be reading about it. Nobody listens to people who just read about stuff, they're just a bunch of nerds.
You need good old politics to get stuff done. We'll ignore the wheat blight and grow corn to burn in our cars, and when the wheat crop fails, maybe we'll remember we can eat corn instead!
Then politicians can take credit for staving off the famine by encouraging corn farmers.
Re:Strangely the brits (Score:1, Funny)
Re:It's okay (Score:5, Funny)
Q: I've heard hemp mills are awfully loud.
A: They run as quiet as a cloud.
Q: What if, perchance, hemp plastics should bend?
A: Not on your life, my stoner friend.
Q: What about us doped-up slobs?
A: You'll be given cushy jobs!
Q: The ring came off my pudding can!
A: Use a hemp one, my good man.
Q: Were you sent here by the devil?
A: No, good sir, I'm on the level.
You see, America, hemp's your only choice. Put down your bongs and raise your voice!
You're such a... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Immunity is fiction. (Score:-1, Funny)
http://www.aegis.com/news/newsday/1998/ND980701.html [aegis.com]
Re:Strangely the brits (Score:2, Funny)
Oh, don't be silly. Growing the food DOES cost money. The parent post said "if we chose to" but it really is a bit more complicated than that. There have been times when we worked with other countries to make sure their populations were well fed, outside of the normal economic system. Google "oil for food" for more.
i tried amaranth cereal once (Score:3, Funny)
hopefully american food processors can turn it into a sweet mushy goo, like most of the food i'm comfortable with
Re:Faithy Governments (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Oh, no! (Score:5, Funny)