The global burden of pathogens and pests on major food crops

Crop pathogens and pests reduce the yield and quality of agricultural production. They cause substantial economic losses and reduce food security at household, national and global levels. Quantitative, standardized information on crop losses is difficult to compile and compare across crops, agroecosystems and regions. Here, we report on an expert-based assessment of crop health, and provide numerical estimates of yield losses on an individual pathogen and pest basis for five major crops globally and in food security hotspots. Our results document losses associated with 137 pathogens and pests associated with wheat, rice, maize, potato and soybean worldwide. Our yield loss (range) estimates at a global level…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Agriculture
• NI
  National Institute of Food and Agriculture

  Award: CA-D-PPA-2131-H
• IO
  Institute of Population and Public Health