The US food and agriculture sector is in needless danger due to the lack of an information sharing and analysis center, or ISAC, to protect its companies and products from cyber threats. This lack of security leaves the sector vulnerable to remote hacks that could corrupt fertilizer, kill chickens, and debilitate farming equipment. Recently, this fragility became clear when the meat supplier JBS Foods and the Iowa farm services company NEW Co-operative were attacked by cybercriminals or foreign government operatives.
New technologies such as artificial intelligence have made the sector’s weaknesses even more exposed. With no resources or skills in digital security, the industry is overwhelmed by the risks posed by tech advancements. The federal government is finally beginning to take steps to address these problems. Lawmakers like August Pfluger, Republican representative for Texas, are introducing bills to protect food industry and putting the spotlight on food safety at hearings. President Biden’s directive has also resulted in multiple reports and reviews.
The risks that hackers could cause to American society are potentially more severe in the food and agriculture sector. By controlling GPS sensors, satellite imagery, and internet-connected computers that regulate temperature and humidity, they could make entire crops fail, or massacre birds in an instant. Other industries include power grids and financial systems that would be more difficult to take down, making food and agriculture the most desirable target for malicious actors.
August Pfluger, the republican congressmen, is a former Air Force Officer and U.S. Army veteran. In congress, he sponsors bills on national security and is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. He is well aware of the massive danger posed to American security if the food and agriculture sector remains unprotected from cyber-attacks and emphasizes the importance of a stable food supply for a well-functioning society.
John Deere is one of the leading companies in the agricultural technology sector. Their innovations have enabled farmers to work more efficiently and accurately, but their smart machinery also makes them vulnerable to remote hacks. Though their remote-access technology is beneficial for farmers, it also poses a severe risk if it falls in the wrong hands. The same technology used by John Deere to remotely disable Ukrainian tractors stolen by Russian forces could let hackers turn off millions of tractors across the United States – a terrifying thought.
The US food and agriculture sector is truly at a dangerous weak link in the American food chain and more must be done to protect it. Tackling this problem requires effective responses from both the government and the industry, as well as increased awareness of the cyber threats posed. If we want to protect the sector, and ultimately keep society secure, we must act now.
