FBI Charges Chinese Scientists With Smuggling Crop-Killing Fungus Threatening US Agriculture

Two Chinese scientists, Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu, have been charged in the United States for attempting to smuggle Fusarium graminearum, a crop-killing fungus considered a potential agroterrorism weapon, into the country. Liu was arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in July 2024 after hiding the fungus in his luggage, and both researchers face charges including conspiracy, smuggling, false statements, and visa fraud. The fungus infects key crops such as wheat, barley, corn, and rice, causing significant agricultural damage and producing mycotoxins harmful to humans and livestock. U.S. officials and experts warn that if genetically modified to resist treatment or increase pathogenicity, the fungus could severely threaten American agriculture and food security. The Trump administration and federal law enforcement have been credited with intercepting this threat, which has raised concerns over Chinese efforts to exert biological and agricultural warfare tactics. Lawmakers emphasize the national security implications, calling the incident an attack on the U.S. food supply and urging thorough investigation into the fungus's genetic makeup.