Puccinia graminis

The "polio of agriculture" - - the forgotten disease known as Wheat Rust (Puccinia graminis) is making a comeback after a 50-year absence. Wheat rust is a fungal infection that attacks the plant's stem, forming lethal, scaly red pustules. The Romans deified it, and believed that sacrificing dogs warded it off.

Wheat rust has spread 5,000 miles in a decade - - it is now camped at the gates of one of world's breadbaskets - - Punjab (as in northwestern India and northern Pakistan - - religion, geography, water, and now the potential for food supply disruptions - - not what this area needs). According to the July 3rd issue of The Economist, scientists announced the discovery of two new strains in South Africa, the most important food producer yet infected.

When luck and/or science runs out, Puccinia graminis, can destroy the entire harvest in an infected area. a full-blown epidemic in a big wheat-growing area could therefore be catastrophic. In 2007, Kenya lost a quarter of the crop and affected 4/5 of all farms.

Keep an eye on this - - wheat is the world's most widely planted crop and accounts for a fifth of humanity's calorie intake (rice has a similar share with all other foods combined for the rest). The vast majority of the worlds' farmers have no experience with Wheat Rust.