Planners urge preparation to protect farms from attack

To encourage planning and preparation, courses funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are informing members of the agricultural sector and residents of rural communities about the dangers of agroterrorism.

Particularly after Sept. 11, 2001, the potential for terrorist attacks against agricultural targets became increasingly recognized as a national security threat. Agroterrorism is defined as an intentional, criminal act perpetrated on some segment of agriculture, intended to inflict harm and to achieve the objectives of the terrorist. Regardless of the target, nearly every terrorist attack—or major natural disaster—could disrupt water or food systems.

At a recent course held in Clovis, speakers highlighted the importance of emergency planning and response, and of involvement by farmers and ranchers to "harden the target." Speakers said response to an attack or disaster will require multiple-discipline, multi-agency, and public and private collaboration.

David Goldenberg, program manager for preparedness training at the Western Institute for Food Safety and Security at the University of California, Davis, advised participants in the Clovis course to become aware of the avenues of potential harm. He said private industry has a vital role in response to a disastrous event and should participate in training and planning alongside traditionally first-responding public agencies.

"We don't want to scare people. We want them to think about possible responses and prepare, so they can do something," he said.

In rural communities, residents know where dairies, feed mills, cattle feeding operations and other possible targets are located, and they know where products travel and how they are transported.

"These are things the first federal and state agency responders won't know—and they are vital to quick action," Goldenberg said.

By being aware of the dangers, and developing relationships with public-sector response teams, people involved in agriculture can be important components in an emergency, he added.

The U.S. military has found proof that attacks by foreign terrorist groups on U.S. agriculture have been considered, Goldenberg said. Holding a copy of an Al Qaeda training manual, he said it contains references to agricultural production and how it could be compromised.

"It is important that as many people as possible understand the way an agroterrorism incident will look, feel and impact a community," he said.

Goldenberg described seven factors that affect the desirability of an agroterrorism target:

• Criticality—public health or economic impact;
• Accessibility—physical access to the target;
• Recuperability—ability of the attacked system to recover;
• Vulnerability—ease of accomplishing the task;
• Effect—amount of direct loss from an attack;
• Recognizability—ease of identifying the target by terrorists;
• Shock—the psychological effect.

He said those factors fit a multitude of agricultural operations and food systems.

Similar to risk assessments to assure food safety, there are steps from the farm to the consumer that must be considered in making response plans. This systematic approach needs to assess, manage and communicate risks.

Course participant David Aquino, human resources director for Giumarra Vineyards, described security against agroterrorism as "one more aspect of food safety," adding that information from the course "adds another layer to our precautions."

Secure storage and keeping track of materials that could be used in attacks, following good agricultural practices and trace-back protocols are all part of responsible farming, he said.

Alex Orosco, ranch manager for S&S Ranch in Mendota, said security is always a concern.

To comply not only with food safety regulations but safety measures required by large produce buyers, Orosco said they follow good agricultural practices to make sure food is not affected by natural sources such as salmonella or by introduced pathogens.

Goldenberg asked that course participants think about vulnerable targets for agroterrorism attacks and what changes in operation could better protect them.

Bruce Hoar, a livestock and food safety epidemiologist with WIFSS, said foot-and-mouth disease is one of the animal pathogens that poses great concern. Although foot-and-mouth disease is not a threat to human health, an outbreak in livestock would cause economic losses and, Hoar said, for every hour a diagnosis is delayed several million dollars' worth of food production could be lost.

Veterinarian Peggy Schmidt, who teaches food safety at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, said a rapid and accurate diagnosis is critical. Diagnosis begins with the collection, handling and shipping of samples. Community preparedness requires that experts in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive agents can be called to oversee the process.

"We only have one chance to do it right, and samples can also be part of a criminal investigation," Schmidt said.

The Western Institute for Food Safety and Security has scheduled another workshop on preventing agroterrorism for March 24 in Davis. The deadline for registration is March 17. More information is available online at www.wifss.ucdavis.edu; click on the links for Training and RDPC Courses.

(Cecilia Parsons is a reporter in Ducor. She may be contacted at ceciliaparsons8@gmail.com.)