China’s greatest locust threat lies within its borders

Significance

Locusts have crossed the Himalayas before, though rarely. China is well-resourced and has strong state capacity compared with the poorer countries infested so far. However, an indigenous locust species is already wreaking havoc in south-west China.

Impacts

• Farmers and foresters will need to procure greater quantities of pesticides and fertilisers to cope with future locust plagues.
• Food crime and price rises due to flooding are more serious food-related sources of potential political unrest.
• Locusts in China generally pose a greater threat to forests and grassland than to the food security of major grain-producing regions.