Since September 11, 2001, U.S. citizens have a better understanding of our vulnerability and the ongoing need to secure key assets and sectors of our economy from intentional attack. One of the sectors often overlooked is agriculture. 

Many security and terrorism experts consider our agricultural system to be among our country’s most vulnerable targets whether a terrorist’s goal is to instill fear, damage the economy, or directly impact the lives and health of people.

The pages in this Agrosecurity section (Background, Protecting Farms, Preparing for an Agroterrorism Event and Surveillance and Response) will help you to develop a better understanding of the concept of agroterrorism, and will present you with a framework for thinking about and securing our agricultural system from intentional attack. 

Additional Resources:

New DHS Chemical Security Regulations

Agroterrorism, Purdue Extension backgrounder - Steve Cain, Purdue University    

Overview of Agricultural Biosecurity - Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota

Homeland Security Presidential Directive #9, entitled "Defense of United States Agriculture and Food."