Available evidence and predictions suggest overall negative effects on agricultural
production as a result of climate change, especially when more food is required by
a growing population. Information on the effects of global warming on pests and
pathogens affecting agricultural crops is limited, though crop–pest models could
offer means to predict changes in pest dynamics, and help design sound plant health
management practices. Host-plant resistance should continue to receive high priority
as global warming may favor emergence of new pest epidemics. There is increased
risk, due to climate change, to food and feed contaminated by mycotoxin-producing
fungi. Mycotoxin biosynthesis gene-specific microarray is being used to identify foodborn fungi and associated mycotoxins, and investigate the influence of environmental
parameters and their interactions for control of mycotoxin in food crops.