In a time when the security of the United States’ critical infrastructure is increasingly threatened by foreign adversaries, the FBI is taking proactive measures to safeguard the nation’s food supply. As detailed in a recent article published on the FBI’s website, the Bureau hosted its second annual Agriculture Threats Symposium in Omaha, Nebraska, where over 400 farmers, cybersecurity experts, and policymakers from 30 states gathered to discuss the growing risks to the agriculture sector and the steps needed to protect it.
The Growing Threat to Agriculture
The agriculture industry, like other critical infrastructures such as water, power, and transportation, is facing a rising tide of cyber threats. As the article outlines, technological advancements in farming – such as the use of GPS and automation tools – have made the industry more efficient but also more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Gene Kowel, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Omaha Field Office, emphasized the severity of these threats, noting that they are evolving and becoming increasingly complex.
“Wherever in the country you may live – from California to Nebraska to Georgia to points in between – the cyber risk and the national security risk for farms and ranches and our food processing facilities is growing exponentially,” Kowel said during the symposium.
Foreign Actors and Cybersecurity Risks
Among the most concerning threats highlighted at the symposium were those posed by foreign actors, particularly the People’s Republic of China. The FBI has been monitoring multiple threats to the agriculture sector, including ransomware attacks, the theft of seeds and intellectual property, and bioterrorism. Kowel pointed out that China is actively seeking ways to disrupt the U.S. agriculture industry, and he urged farmers and ranchers to adopt stronger cybersecurity measures to protect their operations.
Economic Espionage
One alarming example of these risks was a ransomware attack in 2021, attributed to Russia, which shut down one of the world’s largest meatpacking plants. The article also referenced cases where Chinese nationals, posing as tourists or researchers, were caught stealing valuable rice and corn seeds as part of economic espionage efforts.
The Importance of Cyber Hygiene
To combat these threats, the symposium emphasized the importance of “cyber hygiene”—a set of basic cybersecurity practices that can significantly reduce the risk of cyberattacks. These practices include using multi-factor authentication to access networks, regularly backing up critical data, and staying vigilant about potential security breaches. Kowel stressed that as more data and machinery in agriculture become connected to the internet and the cloud, protecting this data becomes ever more crucial.
“We all know that in agriculture today, almost all of our data is stored in the cloud,” Kowel said. “Almost all of our complex machinery is connected to the internet, connected to the cloud, so protecting that control and protecting that data is critical.”
The Economic Impact of Disruptions
The symposium underscored the significant economic impact that disruptions in the agriculture sector can have, not just on individual farmers and ranchers but on the broader economy. Mark McHargue, president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, highlighted that agriculture is a $30 billion industry in Nebraska alone, and any hiccup in the supply chain can create large ripples downstream, affecting rural communities and the national economy.
“If there’s a disruption in the ag sector to any degree, it affects rural life in Nebraska, in the Midwest, and the country because our towns and our communities are so tied to agriculture,” McHargue explained.
Real-World Examples of Cyberattacks
The article provides real-world examples of the devastating effects of cyberattacks on agriculture. Last year, six grain cooperatives in the Midwest were forced to temporarily shut down due to cyberattacks. Another farm in the region suffered $9 million in damages, leading to the cessation of its operations. These incidents underscore the real and present danger that cyber threats pose to the agriculture industry.
The Role of the FBI in Safeguarding Agriculture
The FBI’s involvement in protecting agriculture is a recognition of the sector’s importance to national security. The symposium in Omaha was not just about sharing information but also about building partnerships between the government and the private sector. Kowel emphasized that most of the nation’s critical infrastructure is controlled by the private sector, making collaboration between the FBI and agricultural businesses essential.
“The number-one thing that we’re doing today is building partnerships and building pathways to sharing intelligence and information,” Kowel said. “In America, the government doesn’t control critical infrastructure. Most of the critical infrastructure in our country is controlled by the private sector. And the only way that we can protect it is by working together with the private sector in a partnership.”
The Urgency of the Situation
Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, echoed the urgency of the situation during his remarks at the symposium. He acknowledged the difficulty for farmers to take time away from their work to attend such events but stressed the importance of being informed and prepared for potential threats.
“This is a core issue – one that could bring our country to its knees. This is not a time for us to be alarmed. But it is a time for us to inform ourselves and prepare ourselves,” Duvall said.
A Call to Action for the Agriculture Community
The FBI’s Agriculture Threats Symposium serves as a wake-up call for the agriculture community. As the threats to the nation’s food supply continue to grow, it is imperative that farmers, ranchers, and other stakeholders take proactive steps to protect their operations. The collaboration between the FBI and the agriculture sector is a crucial first step in safeguarding the nation’s critical food infrastructure from foreign and domestic threats.
Preventing Disruptions
By raising awareness and promoting cybersecurity best practices, the symposium aims to prevent the kind of disruptions that could have devastating consequences for the U.S. economy and the American way of life. The event also highlighted the need for ongoing vigilance and cooperation to ensure that the nation’s food supply remains secure in an increasingly dangerous world.
Playing a More Active Role
What do you think? How can individual farmers and ranchers play a more active role in safeguarding the nation’s critical food infrastructure from cyber threats? What additional measures should the government and private sector take to enhance cybersecurity in agriculture? Given the growing threats from foreign actors, what steps can the agriculture industry take to ensure resilience in the face of potential disruptions?
To dive deeper into this topic, check out the full article on the FBI.gov website here.
