Agriterrorism
Minimizing the Risk of Terrorism Drives Food Researchers, Says
Institute of Food Technologists Nov 07, 2005
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Agriterrorism is the malicious use of plant or animal pathogens to cause devastating disease in the agricultural sector. It may also take the form of hoaxes and threats intended to create public fear of such events.
Source:
http://www.fema.gov/pdf/onp/toolkit_app_e.pdf
Agriterrrorism poses threat to food supply
Excerpt:
Thirteen percent of the GDP and 24 million workers are directly involved
in agriculture. Agriculture nationally was worth more than $1 trillion in
1997. Corn, soybeans and pigs sales from Iowa alone reached nearly $10
billion in 1997.
Depending on the agent, an outbreak of agriterrorism would not only
affect the farmers. Trucking would be shut down. Grain movement on and off
farms would cease. Potentially, major highways would be closed or traffic
heavily curtailed. Given Iowa's central location and the fact that these
agents don't recognize geopolitical boundaries, the effects would be
widespread indeed.
The agents of agriterrorism read like a bad novel: foot and mouth
disease, Rinderpest, swine fever (hog cholera), to name a few. Iowa, as a
center of hog production and meat packing, is especially vulnerable to these
agents.
Full article:
http://content.siouxlandbusinessjournal.com/Oct02/agriterrrorism.html
Food haulers urged to address terrorism risks
by Michael Bradford
Oct. 07, 2004 3:19 PM CST
LAS VEGAS-The U.S. Department of Agriculture is asking trucking companies
that haul agricultural products to take steps to protect the nation's food
supply from terrorism.
The USDA unveiled the voluntary guidelines Tuesday at an educational session
sponsored by the Agricultural & Food Transporters Conference at the American
Trucking Assns.' Management Conference & Exhibition in Las Vegas. The
government agency developed the guidelines with the AFTC, which is a
division of the trucking association.
Full Article:
http://www.businessinsurance.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?newsId=4493
For more info on Agriterrorism:
US livestock ID program to begin this year - USDA
February 19, 2004
Full article: http://www.agriculture.com/default.sph/AgNews.class?FNC=sideBarMore__ANewsindex_html___51334
Texas A&M experts create guidelines for agriterrorism
February 1, 2003
Special to the Post
Agricultural experts with Texas Cooperative Extension have created a process to help local jurisdictions across the nation assess the vulnerability of the food supply for terrorist attacks.
The assessment guideline has gone to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Justice, which are expected to recommend its implementation nationwide, according to John Guido, National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center program director.
Full article: http://www.landandlivestockpost.com/news/020103guidelines.htm
Bioterror in the Heartland: Confronting the Specter of Agriterrorism
By Barry Zellen
Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. (BIO)
Shares spike up over $10 on December 24th, 2003 on news of Mad-Cow outbreak.
Bio-Rad is the leading provider of tests for bovine spongiform
encephalopathy, or BSE, (mad-cow disease).
“Agroterrorism: The Threat to America’s Breadbasket”
Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs Hearing
November 19, 2003
Full article:
http://www.nppc.org/news/releases/2003/agroterrorism1.pdf
Nation's food supply said to be vulnerable to terrorism
Wednesday, November 19, 2003 Posted: 2121 GMT (5:21 AM HKT)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A simple handkerchief wielded by a resourceful terrorist could cause billions of dollars of damage to America's food system and untold terror in the nation's kitchens, senators were told Wednesday.
Full article:
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/11/19/agriterrorism.ap/
Homeland Security Now Extends To N.C. Food Supply
Cows Considered Potential Targets Of Agriterrorism
Full article: http://www.wral.com/news/2056590/detail.html
Ridge praises Iowa's agriterrorism defenses
By AMY LORENTZEN
Associated Press Writer
JOHNSTON, Iowa -- Iowa leads the nation in agriterrorism preparedness and excels at other security efforts, including preparing first responders and working with other states, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Thursday.
"We build our strength and capacity from the ground up, not from Washington down," he said. "Homeland security is about shared leadership and shared responsibility."
Full article:
http://fairmontsentinel.com/news/stories/111403c.html
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