Agroterrorism and Food Systems Defense

key issues and research needs

Agroterrorism and Food Systems Defense

key issues and research needs

John Shutske, ProfessorUniversity of Minnesota

Center for Public Health PreparednessCollege of Agricultural, Food, and

Environmental Sciences

John Shutske, ProfessorUniversity of Minnesota

Center for Public Health PreparednessCollege of Agricultural, Food, and

Environmental Sciences

Why Should We be Concerned About Agriculture and Food

as a Vulnerable Infrastructure?

Why Should We be Concerned About Agriculture and Food

as a Vulnerable Infrastructure?

(in need of rural P.H. preparedness expertise…)

Five ReasonsFive Reasons

Five ReasonsFive Reasons

1. Size, economic impact of agricultural and food industries

Why Be Concerned About the Food System?

Why Be Concerned About the Food System?

• In 2001, food and fiber industry:− employed nearly 24 million

people− had output > $2 trillion− generated > $1.24 trillion

worth in value added− 12.3% of total gross

domestic product. − 17% percent of American

workers in the food and fiber system

From USDA Economic Research Service (ERS)

We’re Talking About Much More

than Just “The Farm”Food Process Distribution Chain

We’re Talking About Much More

than Just “The Farm”Food Process Distribution Chain

Transport Distribution

Center Processor

D/C - Warehouse

Farm and

Input

supplier

Retail grocer or restaurant

Adapted from materials by Dr. Ted Labuza, University of Minnesota

Five ReasonsFive Reasons

2. Global nature of our food supply

Worldwide, MANY People Producing Food (number is in millions)

Worldwide, MANY People Producing Food (number is in millions)

2.7 billiontotal

Bananas

Cheese

Grains

Cocoa

Oils

Seafood

VegetablesJuices

Fresh Meat

Processed MeatSpices

GlobalizationGlobalization

Graphic from National Ctr. For Food Protection and Defense

Five ReasonsFive Reasons

3. 2,000,000 vulnerable nodes in this country alone

Prevention vs. PreparednessPrevention vs. Preparedness

Which is Easier to Fully Protect?

Which is Easier to Fully Protect?

Five ReasonsFive Reasons

4. Overlap of CDC Category A,B,and C Agents with

Agricultural, Food, and Animals

CDC Biological agents: The Category “A” List

CDC Biological agents: The Category “A” List

• Agents of high risk to national security−easily disseminated or

transmitted person-to-person.−high mortality with potential for

major public health impact.−may cause panic and social

disruption.− require special action for public

health preparedness.

The “A” ListThe “A” List

AnthraxSmallpoxPlague

TularemiaBotulism

Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers

Which are zoonotic?

Five ReasonsFive Reasons

5. We all eat!

Symbolically…..Symbolically…..

• The relationship between people and our food supply is an intimate one.

Imagine Waking Up to the News..

Imagine Waking Up to the News..

• Dairy herds found simultaneously infected in CA, FL, Maine, and WA

• Biological/chemical toxins discovered in school lunches in Lebanon, Kansas

Why Lebanon Kansas?

Two Tabletop Exercisesto help people think about preparedness issues and the

need to work together

Two Tabletop Exercisesto help people think about preparedness issues and the

need to work together

• H5N1 Avian Influenza – The potential public health “perfect storm” (biggest risk factor in Asia is co-mingling of chickens, pigs, ducks, and people!)

• Intentional contamination of an agricultural product with Clostridium botulinum toxin.

ChallengesChallenges

• Critical mass of support.− For research, education, and community

outreach from our federal and state funding partners

− Locally for qualified staff and recognition that public health is mission critical in rural U.S.

• Appreciation that agriculture and food is integral to our national security.

• An understanding that agriculture and food is not simply cute cows and amber waves of grain.

• Balancing “terrorism” issue with other concerns (natural disasters, etc.)

Research QuestionsResearch Questions• How do we garner support and buy-in from the private

sector – What protective practices have the highest returns on investment?

• How do we help communities and businesses deal with the changing demographics of those working in our agricultural and food industries?

• What are the proven ways to increase the recognition and perceived value of public health (people and the work that they do) in rural communities?

• How do we best work together – public health, medicine, veterinary medicine, agriculture, policy?

• How can we engage urban citizens in issues of rural preparedness (politically and otherwise)?

• What is the optimal balance of basic awareness building education versus in-depth technical skill building (decontamination, recovery, disposal, investigation, etc.)