“The potential for terrorist attacks against agricultural targets (agroterrorism) is increasingly recognized as a national security threat, especially after the events of September 11, 2001. In this context, agroterrorism is defined as the deliberate introduction of an animal or plant disease with the goal of generating fear of the safety of food, causing economic losses, and/or undermining social stability. The response to the threat of agroterrorism has come to be called “food defense.” This report addresses the use of biological weapons against agriculture, rather than terrorists using agricultural inputs or equipment in attacks against non-agricultural targets…and focuses primarily on biological weapons because [they] generally are considered the more potent agroterrorism threat.”
By Jim Monke
Agroterrorism: Threats and Preparedness
- June 28, 2011
- | Filed under North America, Report, and 2001-2025
