Cybersecurity Must Be A Priority For Ag Community

The Memorial Day weekend cyber-attack on the world's largest meat processor impacted U.S. facilities and created a ripple effect along the supply chain.

"[It] caused disruptions to supply chains, logistics, and transportation to customers. And it increased consumer prices]
Which has raised questions how to prevent similar events from occurring," said Jennifer van de Ligt of the University of Minnesota Food Protection and Defense Institute.

She said interdependency among the operational technologies within the supply chain increases cyber-attack vulnerability.

"A situation such as this could be repeated and effect a broad area of the nation in the event of a targeted cyber-attack."

She believes a coordinated effort between USDA, Homeland Security, and the FBI is needed in the way of risk reduction and cyber-security education efforts within the nation's food and AG sectors.

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