A new corn disease proves resistant to all treatments known to man. Entire corn production of the US is wiped out. The public outcry of lack of corn syrup for soda and corn starch for various processed food is deafening. While some experts say that this is a blessing in disguise to cure Americans if not the entire world of obesity, other more solemn scholars point to severe food shortage to come.
Indeed, there are already articles placing blame on various factors. While some say that monoculture is the problem, Monsanto says that its effort to create new GMO, if not hampered, could have avoided the problem. There are cries of "I told you so" coming from all sides. The public does not know whom to believe, while noting that food costs have increased three-fold, and supermarket shelves are no longer fully stocked.
People reminisce of the Irish potato blight, and lament that this time there's no new world to emigrate to.