1 February 2024 | Diego N. L. Pequeno, Thiago B. Ferreira, José M. C. Fernandes, Pawan K. Singh, Willingthon Pavan, Kai Sonder, Richard Robertson, Timothy J. Krupnik, Olaf Erenstein, Senthold Asseng
Wheat blast, caused by the fungal pathogen *Magnaporthe oryzae* pathotype *Triticum*, has spread from Brazil to other countries since its emergence in the 1980s. Under climate change conditions, wheat blast is predicted to spread primarily in tropical regions. This study couples a wheat crop simulation model with a newly developed wheat blast model to estimate global wheat blast vulnerability under current and future climates. Under current conditions, 6.4 million hectares of arable land are potentially vulnerable to wheat blast. By mid-century, a more humid and warmer climate (Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5) is likely to increase the area suitable for wheat blast infection, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere, and reduce global wheat production by 69 million tons per year (a 13% decrease). The model's performance is evaluated using field data from Brazil, Bangladesh, and Zambia, showing satisfactory results. The study highlights the need for effective mitigation strategies, such as breeding resistant wheat varieties and adjusting planting dates, to manage the increasing threat of wheat blast.Wheat blast, caused by the fungal pathogen *Magnaporthe oryzae* pathotype *Triticum*, has spread from Brazil to other countries since its emergence in the 1980s. Under climate change conditions, wheat blast is predicted to spread primarily in tropical regions. This study couples a wheat crop simulation model with a newly developed wheat blast model to estimate global wheat blast vulnerability under current and future climates. Under current conditions, 6.4 million hectares of arable land are potentially vulnerable to wheat blast. By mid-century, a more humid and warmer climate (Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5) is likely to increase the area suitable for wheat blast infection, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere, and reduce global wheat production by 69 million tons per year (a 13% decrease). The model's performance is evaluated using field data from Brazil, Bangladesh, and Zambia, showing satisfactory results. The study highlights the need for effective mitigation strategies, such as breeding resistant wheat varieties and adjusting planting dates, to manage the increasing threat of wheat blast.