In Box 14.2 it says that new varieties were introduced to solve an increasing number of disease and pest problems that would have caused wheat yields to decline substantially in the absence of the new varieties. Research, and dollars spent for research on disease and pest resistance has declined markedly in the past 25 years. My question is: should we be more concerned than we are with the possibility that a new strain of a disease might wipe out, or substantially reduce crop yields some day in the near future? Are we ahead of the game with todays research and innovations and with biotechnology, or should we be worried? I would like you to do a web search of potential crop diseases and write your opinions of whether or not you think we should worry, and why. Cite your source(es) and respond to another person.
