Aided by climate change, crop diseases could outstrip increased yields that come with warmer weather in some of the world’s most fertile zones, a new study has found.
Some of the 8,000 species that cause crop diseases are spreading towards the poles because of long-term changes in temperature, a paper published in Nature Climate Change said.
The study by British and Dutch researchers found that Europe, China and Peru are among the areas at greatest risk from the spread of plant diseases.
While disease has been an ever-present threat since humans started cultivating their own crops more than 10,000 years ago, the authors said rising temperatures and the globalisation of food production have brought extra dangers.
Germany in 2013 reported a disease not seen for decades in its wheat crops that was linked to warmer temperatures. And previous catastrophic epidemics, including the Irish potato famine of the 1840s and the 1943 Great Bengal Famine, have been linked to plant diseases entering new area.
The disease-causing fungi are highly sensitive to climate change and scientists say their range is moving up to 7 kilometres a year towards the poles.
The researchers, studying the impact of climate change on 12 crops during the 21st century, predicted that the warmer weather would cause an overall global increase in the production of crops such as wheat, cassava, rapeseed and sunflower.
But despite improvements in protections against plant diseases, modern agriculture remains vulnerable to sudden and unpredictable changes caused by crop epidemics. The paper said that the global nature of the food industry has also caused new problems, with some diseases introduced through contaminated seed imports.
“The suite of crop diseases that farmers face in some of the world’s most productive regions will change dramatically,” the study concluded. “Agriculture must therefore prepare accordingly if any potential benefits of climate change for crop yields are to be realised.”
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Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
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Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
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Results
Greatest Royal Rumble match listing
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Casket match The Undertaker v Rusev
Singles match John Cena v Triple H
Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v Kalisto
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Tomorrow 2021
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So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
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Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Transgender report
MATCH INFO
First Test at Barbados
West Indies won by 381 runs
Second Test at Antigua
West Indies won by 10 wickets
Third Test at St Lucia
February 9-13
Key 2013/14 UAE Motorsport dates
October 4: Round One of Rotax Max Challenge, Al Ain (karting)
October 1: 1 Round One of the inaugural UAE Desert Championship (rally)
November 1-3: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula One)
November 28-30: Dubai International Rally
January 9-11: 24Hrs of Dubai (Touring Cars / Endurance)
March 21: Round 11 of Rotax Max Challenge, Muscat, Oman (karting)
April 4-10: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Endurance)
Jawan
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
Tomorrow 2021
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