1.2 Famines in Human History
Some time around the 19th century, the English economist Thomas Malthus proposed that the world’s rate of population growth was far outstripping the development of food supplies:
Figure 1.8: A Graphic Representation of What Malthus Proposed
Since the rapidly increasing population cannot be matched by growths in the supply of food, this could possibly lead to famine or even a civil war!
1.2.1 Irish famine
The fungus Phytophthora infestans was responsible for causing late blights on potatoes and damaging potato crops.
Figure 1.9: A Rendering of the Great Irish Potato Blight
About one million individuals died from starvation in the 1840s (one of the leading causes of death in Europe) - because of this, about a million Irish migrated to countries like the USA.
Strangely, the famine boosted Irish nationalism and republicanism in Ireland.
1.2.2 Great Bengal famine
The fungus Cochliobolus miyabeanus (i.e., brown spot) was responsible for about two million individuals’ deaths; it destroyed rice crops among other crops too! Diseases like smallpox, malaria, and cholera were also involved in the aforementioned two million deaths.
Like the Irish potato blight, the great Bengal famine resulted in social disruptions and mass migrations - this also aided the Indian independence movement (which was led by Ghandi):
Figure 1.10: Ghandi Kneeling and Writing
During the second world war, the fungus was also used as a biological, anti-crop weapon against Japan. To this date, it remains a possible agro-terrorism weapon!