The example of Iran shows how rust surveillance and early warning can provide rapid action to slow the spread of rust and prepare a stock of new resistant varieties for future growing seasons. Continue reading
Rust never sleeps – but it abides in East Africa. Not only is the region the cradle of mankind, it is one of the key cradles for the birth of new rust strains. The stem rust Ug99 first appeared in Uganda and many stripe rust outbreaks and epidemics also have their origins in the region. Continue reading
Wheat is the world’s most important food crop and its most traded. In the developing world it is the second most important crop after rice. Wheat feeds about 2.5 billion poor people (living on less than $2 a day) in some 90 countries and is a crucial source of calories and protein. Continue reading
A significant investment has been made over the past five years in surveillance and control of stem rust. This disease is critical, appearing at the end of the growing cycle and capable of decimating an entire harvest in weeks. Continue reading