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“America’s Silent Threat: The Growing Risk of Agroterrorism—and How the U.S. Can Fight Back”

Agroterrorism, or agricultural bioterrorism, refers to the intentional introduction of plant or animal pathogens to cause widespread disruption, economic damage, food insecurity, or panic. While the topic has often flown under the radar, experts agree that the U.S. food and agriculture sector—responsible for over 20% of the national economy—is a soft but high-value target.

What Is Agroterrorism?

Unlike traditional terrorism, which often targets people or infrastructure, agroterrorism aims to cripple a nation by attacking the very systems that sustain life: crops, livestock, and food distribution. This form of biological warfare is inexpensive, difficult to detect, and devastating in effect.

Historical Examples of Agroterrorism

1. World War I—German Sabotage on American Soil

In the 1910s, German agents operating in the U.S. used glanders and anthrax to infect horses, mules, and cattle destined for Allied troops in Europe. This early biological sabotage aimed to reduce enemy logistics by targeting animal transport capacity.

2. 1984—The Rajneeshee Salmonella Attack

In Oregon, followers of the Rajneeshee cult contaminated salad bars with Salmonella typhimurium in an attempt to suppress voter turnout and sway a local election. The attack sickened over 750 people—the first major bioterrorism act on American soil involving food.

3. 1989—Mediterranean Fruit Fly Outbreak (California)

An eco-terrorist group called “The Breeders” claimed responsibility for a medfly infestation in California. The deliberate introduction of this crop-devastating pest caused millions in damage and forced mass pesticide use.

4. 2001—Post-9/11 Agricultural Vulnerability Revealed

After the September 11 attacks, U.S. intelligence recovered al-Qaeda documents showing interest in U.S. crop and livestock systems. Agroterrorism was highlighted as a “low-tech, high-impact” option in jihadist playbooks.

5. 2002—Hoaxes Targeting Meat Production

In 2002, several U.S. meat companies received letters falsely claiming their products were tainted with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Though fake, the letters caused panic, forced recalls, and disrupted supply chains.

6. 2010–2020—Activist Targeting and Biosecurity Risks

Groups like the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and foreign eco-extremist cells have been linked to break-ins, threats, and data breaches targeting U.S. poultry and pork producers. Some attacks have included the release of internal farm records, falsely implying disease outbreaks.

7. African Swine Fever (ASF) Concerns

While ASF has not yet been detected in U.S. herds, the intentional introduction of the virus, which has wiped out over 50% of China’s pigs, is a top concern for U.S. Homeland Security. The virus doesn’t infect humans but is economically devastating.

Why Is the U.S. Food System So Vulnerable?

High Concentration: Most of the nation’s meat is processed in a small number of facilities.
Global Supply Chains: Ingredients and livestock are often imported, making tracing harder.
Limited Farm Security: Many farms have minimal protection against biological or physical sabotage.
Lag in Surveillance Tech: Early detection systems for plant or livestock diseases are underfunded.

What the United States Is Doing to Protect Itself

1. Legal and Legislative Action

The Bioterrorism Act of 2002 requires food facilities to register with the FDA and mandates faster response systems for food-borne threats.
Homeland Security Presidential Directive 9 (HSPD-9) defines national policy to defend U.S. agriculture and food systems against terrorist threats.

2. Interagency Cooperation

FBI Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Directorate actively monitors potential threats to agricultural sites.
USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) conducts inspections and rapid disease response drills.

3. Surveillance and Detection

Implementation of National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) and National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) for real-time alerts.
Canine agriculture detection units at U.S. ports help stop pests and foreign disease agents.

4. Technology and Preparedness Tools

CARVER+Shock: A risk assessment tool used by both industry and government to detect and mitigate food-related threats.
Food Defense Plan Builder: Software for producers to prepare for possible intentional contamination.

5. Public-Private Partnerships

Collaboration between DHS, FDA, and large agricultural corporations to secure supply chains.
The Food and Agriculture Sector Coordinating Council (FASCC) brings together industry leaders to share threat intelligence.

Remaining Gaps and Challenges

Despite advancements, several issues remain:

Understaffed Biosecurity Units: Only a fraction of the 2 million U.S. farms have regular biosecurity inspections.
Lack of Rural Emergency Preparedness: Many agricultural counties lack funding for first responders trained in biological containment.
Increased Domestic Extremism: Animal rights and eco-terrorist groups remain active and harder to monitor post-2020 due to decentralized operations.
Cyber-Agriculture Threats: Hacking automated irrigation, feeding, or refrigeration systems is a growing concern.

What Can Be Done Moving Forward?

Fund Next-Gen Biosecurity Research in universities and land-grant institutions.
Expand Veterinary Workforce trained for high-consequence animal disease response.
Bolster Export Inspections and import quarantines.
Create Grants for Farm-Level Biosecurity Upgrades.
National Simulated Agroterror Drills, similar to military “war games,” can ensure preparedness across states.