Start Hoarding Wonder Bread, Wheat Rot to Cause World Famine

[jimmy olsen]

Or you know, we could just plant rhye or barley or corn or some other grain instead. Seriously, way too hysterical.

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/02/start-hoarding-wonder-bread.html

Start Hoarding Wonder Bread

27 Feb 2010 10:52 am

by Graeme Wood

The world's wheat is defenseless against a new fungus that causes stem rot.  Brendan Koerner says a billion people could die:

    The pathogen has already been detected in Iran and may now be headed for South Asia's most important breadbasket, the Punjab, which nourishes hundreds of millions of Indians and Pakistanis. What's more, Ug99 could easily make the transoceanic leap to the United States. All it would take is for a single spore, barely bigger than a red blood cell, to latch onto the shirt of an oblivious traveler. The toll from that would be ruinous; the US Department of Agriculture estimates that more than 40 million acres of wheat would be at serious risk if Ug99 came to these shores, where the grain is the third most valuable crop, trailing only corn and soybeans. The economic loss might easily exceed $10 billion; a simple loaf of bread could become a luxury.

The fungus, called Ug99 (sounds a bit like Ice 9, and acts a bit like it too), is a new strain of the same stuff that the late Norman Borlaug won the Nobel for defeating, and thereby possibly saving more lives than anyone has ever lived.

[CountDeMoney]

A billion people could die and at least another billion will lose weight from staying away from so many carbs.  I say it's a win-win.

[DisturbedPervert]

Wonder Bread contains wheat?

[Cecil]

Correction. A billion third worlders could die. Around here it would be "Huh price of bread has gone up a lot lately" and then we wouldnt care overly much. 

[MadImmortalMan]

Maybe it's time to get in the commodity futures market.

[garbon]

Roman Meal lasts forever.

[Darth Wagtaros]

I will have to start making soy bread. 

[Viking]

Wonder Bread contains wheat?

Wonder Bread contains bread?

[Admiral Yi]

Wonder Bread contains bread?

You thought it was 100% wonder?

[Darth Wagtaros]

Wonder Bread contains bread?

You thought it was 100% wonder?

I wonder what's inside?

[Grey Fox]

Or maybe you should stop growing so many corn.

[Viking]

Wonder Bread contains bread?

You thought it was 100% wonder?

Cardboard

[Jaron]

Or maybe you should stop growing so many corn.

Why?

[Strix]

I heard something similar about rice last year.

[crazy canuck]

I like Rye bread.