An Agroterrorism Threat

The Fusarium graminearum pathogen, found with two Chinese researchers who are being charged with smuggling a biological pathogen into the U.S., has implications for crop production. “It’s a biological pathogen that can cause absolutely devastating crop diseases, particularly for wheat and barley and corn and rice,” said Washburn University School of Law Professor of Agricultural Law and Taxation Roger McEowen. “What it does is it causes head blight and produces mycotoxins that are toxic to humans and animals. If that got released into the U.S. public on U.S. farmland, it would slash crop yields.” McEowen said it is a real agroterrorism threat.