The White House recently signed a national security memorandum with the intention to strengthen the security and resilience of the U.S. food and agriculture sector.
The Biden administration said the memorandum will ensure that Americans have access to safe and affordable food, producers are able to send their products to market, and the food and agriculture sector is better prepared for threats.
Agriculture, food and related industries contribute about 5% of the country’s gross domestic product, the White House said, which represents over $1 trillion per year and more than 19 million jobs.
“This critical food and agriculture sector has, in recent years, faced a range of deliberate and naturally occurring threats to its security and resilience,” a fact sheet read.
Such threats include the summer 2021 ransomware attack on JBS USA, the spread of avian influenza across the country and the Russia/Ukraine war.
To strengthen resilience, President Joe Biden approved a national security memorandum that supersedes a 2004 Homeland Security presidential directive and provides presidential guidance to identify and assess threats, strengthen partnerships to enhance workforces and enhance preparedness and response.
Identify and assess threats
The national security memorandum outlines a process to identify and assess threats. This includes the following:
• Redefining the way chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats are defined in relation to the food and ag sector.
• Focusing on cyber threats and the consequences of the climate crisis.
• Enhancing threat and risk assessments and sharing information with relevant entities and partners.
• Mandating a continuous process to assess and mitigate the risks and vulnerabilities of the food and ag sector.
Strengthen partnerships
The memo also outlines the plans to strengthen the resilience of the food and ag workforce by addressing the following:
• Refining the identification of and guidance for essential critical infrastructure workers to continue to work safely while supporting operations during high-consequence or catastrophic incidents.
• Supporting relevant education at all levels to train the existing workforce and build a pipeline of future workers.
Enhance preparedness and response
Finally, the memo outlines plans for the federal government to bolster the country’s ability to prepare and respond to agricultural incidents through the following:
• Training partners on how to prepare for and respond to threats.
• Integrating laboratories to increase testing and diagnostic surge capacity and standardizing diagnostic and reporting protocols to share information quickly.
• Enhancing the National Veterinary Stockpile.
• Strengthening plant disease response capability with the National Plant Disease Recovery System.
Industry reaction
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) applauded the measure. “Our agricultural sector faces a variety of threats that could inhibit cattle producers’ ability to bring beef from pasture to plate,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall in a statement. “NCBA appreciates the Biden administration’s focus on identifying threats and developing new ways to mitigate them. Together, we can protect our industry while ensuring that all Americans have access to wholesome foods like beef.”
Woodall attended a pre-briefing meeting at the White House ahead of the signing, which included discussions of key security issues for the cattle industry. The pre-briefing participants discussed tools such as the National Veterinary Stockpile, which helps prevent the spread of disease and aids recovery. In addition, the meeting addressed cybersecurity and worker training programs that support the beef supply chain.
“I am particularly pleased to hear that the administration is making security and resiliency decisions based on data,” Woodall said. “These data-driven decisions are the ones we can support.” — Anna Miller, WLJ managing editor
