Fungus pathogen smuggled into the US could destroy wheat: What is it?
The FBI arrested two Chinese researchers for allegedly smuggling Fusarium graminearum — a fungal pathogen capable of devastating wheat crops and triggering food security crises — into the US under the guise of academic research.Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, face charges including conspiracy, smuggling, and visa fraud, with prosecutors alleging ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and state-funded research on the pathogen.advertisementWhat Is Fusarium graminearum?Classified as a potential agroterrorism weapon, this fungus causes Fusarium head blight (FHB), infecting wheat, barley, maize, and rice during critical growth stages.
Unchecked agroterrorism could exacerbate food insecurity and geopolitical instability. (Photo: Getty)
It invades plants through natural openings like stomata, colonizing kernels and producing toxic compounds: deoxynivalenol (DON), which induces vomiting in humans, and zearalenone, linked to reproductive defects in livestock.Globally, it destroys $10 billion in crops annually, leaving contaminated 'tombstone kernels' and rendering harvests unfit for consumption.Agricultural and Health RisksThe pathogen's mycotoxins persist through food processing, threatening supply chains. In 1991, a related Fusarium strain caused Kuwait's 'oil well fires,' contaminating 99% of freshwater reserves — a cautionary tale for large-scale agroterrorism.advertisementModern outbreaks bleach entire wheat fields within days, with no fully resistant crop varieties available.According to FBI Director Kash Patel, Jian smuggled the fungus into her University of Michigan lab, while Liu attempted to import more via Detroit Airport in July 2024.New... I can confirm that the FBI arrested a Chinese national within the United States who allegedly smuggled a dangerous biological pathogen into the country.The individual, Yunqing Jian, is alleged to have smuggled a dangerous fungus called "Fusarium graminearum," which is an— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) June 3, 2025Communications revealed Jian's CCP affiliations and Chinese government funding for dual-use pathogen research. US Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. labeled the scheme a 'grave national security threat,' noting the fungus's potential to cripple U.S. agriculture if weaponized.With 40% of conflicts tied to resource scarcity, experts warn unchecked agroterrorism could exacerbate food insecurity and geopolitical instability. The DOJ's charges signal heightened scrutiny of dual-use research collaborations, particularly with state-linked foreign entities.As investigations continue, the incident highlights the urgent need for international frameworks to mitigate biological threats to food systems—a challenge as complex as the pathogen itself.Must Watch
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