Terrorist attacks on environmental and agricultural targets

Environmental and Agricultural Terrorist Targets

Agricultural and Environmental Terrorist Targets

Terrorist attacks against agricultural targets, also known as agroterrorism, is the "deliberate introduction of an animal or plant disease with the goal of generating fear, causing economic losses, and/or undermining stability" (Monke 1). Research has demonstrated that such a terrorist attack could have a devastating impact, with repercussions not just for food supply but numerous related industries (RAND 1). First, this paper will discuss what target is highly vulnerable in the United States and, then, what the government is doing in order to prepare and protect the nation for agroterrorism.

Agricultural and environmental targets present major problems for the country if they are attacked. The close confinement of livestock leads to quick spread of pathogens. Crops are kept in an unsecured area, with wide open spaces that are easy to access. Even a rumor about an agricultural pathogen can halt its export, creating devastating economic impacts. Many scientists, such as veterinarians, do not have experience identifying certain infectious diseases because such diseases do not exist in the U.S. (Monke 1)

An attack on cloven-hoofed livestock through the intentional introduction of foot-and-mouth disease (Gonzales, Schofield, and Schmitt 1) seems like the most vulnerable target and means of attacking that target. Cloven-hoofed animals include cows, pigs, deer, and goats. The disease creates painful blisters that prevent the animals eating, drinking, walking, and being milked. With an infection rate twenty times that of smallpox and an airborne transmission rate of 50 feet, it would quickly spread through livestock. While humans do not contract it, they can carry it and pass it onto more animals. (Gonzales, Schofield, and Schmidt 1)

This would devastate the livestock industry and all related markets. Gonzales, Schofield, and Schmidt (1) explain that it would lead to the slaughter of millions of animals, halting domestic and international sale of meat products for up to years, and costing $60 billion to American taxpayers. Additionally, while the foot-and-mouth disease that scientists know of cannot be contracted by humans, it does not mean that an intentional modification or natural mutation could make it so over time. The economic devastation of a foot-and-mouth disease attack on livestock and the potential development into a human pathogen makes this a major agroterrorism concern.

In order to deal with these types of attacks, a number of preventative and responsive measures are needed. On the prevention side, there needs to be research about the most infectious diseases, widespread vaccination against the most threatening animal borne pathogens, monitoring and intelligence to identify potential threats, and education about bioterrorism at all levels of government (RAND, 2). On the response side, early detection, early containment, treatment plans, stockpiles of vaccines and drugs, and an animal depopulation and disposal plan are all necessary (RAND, 2).

The government has passed a number of laws to help address potential threats and be ready in the event of an attack. For example, the Bioterrorism Preparedness Act tightens control of certain toxins and threatening agents and expands agricultural security. The FDA and USDA have both passed rules to increase record-keeping and monitoring related to potentially dangerous agents. Homeland Security has been authorized to increase agricultural border inspections, with the assistance of the USDA. These inspections identify and quarantine potential threats. (Monke 9-13) These measures by the government attempt to increase preparedness prior to an attack and responsiveness when an attack is implemented.