The Looming Threat of Fungal Diseases on Food Security

Fungal attacks on important crops are rising rapidly and could lead to a global health catastrophe, warn scientists. Fungi are already the biggest destroyer of crops and are highly resilient, adaptable, and can travel long distances on the wind. The impact of fungal disease is expected to worsen due to the climate crisis, with temperatures rising and fungal infections moving steadily polewards. Fungal pathogens have been moving to higher latitudes at a rate of about 7km a year since the 1990s. Existing fungicides and conventional breeding for disease resistance are no longer enough, and new solutions are needed, such as planting seed mixtures and developing new pesticides.