The World Ahead | Science in 2024
The next pandemic could hit global crop supplies
As plant diseases spread across continents, greater scrutiny is needed
By Caitlin Talbot
Wheat blast, a fungal disease, is poised to turn the world’s breadbasket into a chalky mess. It has spread more than 15,000km in a decade—from Brazil to Argentina, and then Zambia and Bangladesh. It may yet get to India, the second-biggest producer of wheat.
Explore more
This article appeared in the Science and technology section of the print edition of The World Ahead 2024 under the headline “The next pandemic?”
More from The World Ahead
The World Ahead 2025
Ten business trends for 2025, and forecasts for 15 industries
A global round-up from The Economist Intelligence Unit