In October 2007 scientists and researchers met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and established an early warning system to check the spread of stem rust. A survey system was then set up that would help researchers track and identify the spread of the fungus
The Bill Gates Foundation has given $26.8 million U. S Dollars to Cornell University for a new global project to combat this fungus: wheat (stem) rust disease, which specialists say poses a threat to the world’s food security.
Fungus is not the only issue at hand in the wheat and grain crisis. By our own choices and thirst for ‘fuel’ we have slashed production of edible grains considerably.
On Sunday, March 23, 2008, the head of Nestle, the largest food and beverage company in the world, warned that the growing use of crops such as wheat and corn to make biofuels is putting world food supplies in peril. While the competition is driving up the price of maize, soya and wheat, land for cultivation is becoming rare and water sources are also under threat, chairman and chief executive Peter Brabeck-Letmathe said.
While there is disagreement with such statements among those in support of alternate fuel sources, there is one statement that I believe we could all agree upon. It is on this one statement of fact that we must base where our priorities fall in the battle for renewable energy vs. edible wheat and grain crops: A society can live without automobile fuel, our history has proven that, but a society cannot live without food.
Now prioritize.
