Amid Rising Global Tensions, Bipartisan Effort Ramps Up to Shield Food Supply from Cyberattacks

A bipartisan pair is attempting to team up to tackle cyber threats to the American food supply, introducing new legislation that will increase the analysis and threat detection of critical farms and food infrastructure.

Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) teamed up to present the Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act. This act is designed to increase protection in the agriculture and food sector.

Cotton said, “America’s enemies are trying to get any possible advantage against us, including targeting vital industries like agriculture.”

He said, “Congress must collaborate with the Department of Agriculture to find and eliminate these cyber-vulnerabilities. This legislation will make sure we’re prepared to safeguard the supply chains that our American farmers and other Americans depend on.”

In her statement, Slotkin said: “Food Security is National Security. The Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act will help protect Michigan’s Agriculture and Food Sector.”

She added, “Cyber attacks are a constant threat to our food supply, and both the government and private industry must be prepared. This bipartisan legislation will force the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to collaborate closely with national security agencies to prevent our enemies, such as China, from threatening our ability to feed our people.”

The measure requires that the secretary of agriculture, homeland safety, and the health and human service secretaries coordinate and work with the director of national intelligence on crisis simulations every year to prepare themselves for cyber-emergencies affecting the food infrastructure.

Every two years, the Secretary of Agriculture would be required to carry out risk assessments to identify any vulnerability in the agricultural and food sectors. He/she will then report the results to Congress.

Sens. Pete Ricketts, R-NEB., Thom Tillis, R-NC, Cynthia Lummis, R-WYO., Katie Britt, R-ALA., and Ted Budd, R-N.C., are cosponsors of the bill. A companion bill is being introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Brad Finstad, R-MINN.

The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, USA Rice, and North American Millers Association have all endorsed the bill.