2 September 2013
Global warming is
helping pests and diseases that attack crops to spread around the world,
according to a new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
Researchers from the universities of Exeter and Oxford found crop pests are
moving towards the poles as regions warm.
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The researchers
looked at more than 600 crop pests from around the world.
These included fungi,
such as wheat rust, which is devastating harvests in Africa and the Middle East; insects
like the mountain pine beetle that's destroying trees in the US; as well as
bacteria, viruses and microscopic nematode worms.
They found that
over the past 50 years, these destructive species have been on
the move. On average, they're spreading 3km every year,
shifting north and south towards the poles.
The scientists say
this correlates with warming temperatures, allowing the
pests to take hold in areas that were once too cold for
them to live in.
Currently, between
10% and 20% of the world's crops are lost to pests - and the team warns that rising
global temperatures could make the problem worse. The researchers say that
improved surveillance of the problem is needed.
Pests - insects
or small animals that damage crops
fungi (singular:
fungus) - organisms that eat decaying material (e.g. mushrooms)
harvests - crops
which are cut and collected
on the move - going
from one place to another
correlates with - is
related to, has a direct link to
to take hold - to become
established
surveillance - close
observation
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