McSally: Nation’s food security needs defense against agro-terrorism

U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) issued a warning on Monday to her colleagues regarding the future of food security and agro-terrorism.

“An agroterrorism attack would impact the most basic of human needs—the food we eat. Furthermore, the food and agriculture sector is critically important to our nation’s economy,” McSally said. “U.S. food and agriculture accounts for roughly one-fifth of the nation’s economic activity, contributed $835 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product in 2014, and is responsible for one out of every 12 U.S. jobs. In my home state of Arizona, ranching and agriculture contributes around $10 billion a year to the State’s economy.”

In a hearing held by the House Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, McSally discussed the potential impacts of biological terrorism and federal programs aimed at tackling some of the biodefense challenges the nation faces today.

McSally detailed how an attack or natural disruption of U.S. agriculture or current food supply would present a serious threat to the nation and cause major economic damages, including costs related to livestock disease, farmer compensation for loss of agriculture commodities and losses in trade.

“An international attack or natural disruption of U.S. agriculture or food, therefore, would present a serious threat to this nation and cause major economic damages on a number of levels,” McSally said. “There will be costs related to containing disease and destruction of livestock, compensating farmers for loss of agricultural commodities and losses in other related industries, and trade embargoes imposed by other nations.”