Editor’s Note – Protecting Food and Agriculture: Bigger Than Rising Egg Prices

A countryside covered in fields and livestock may not seem like a high-risk location to people who regularly prepare for and manage emergencies. However, many dangers and security vulnerabilities exist in the food and agriculture sector that could significantly impact rural and urban communities nationwide. From the daily care and feeding of plants and animals to nefarious actors intentionally attacking the food supply, agricultural activities that include risks and vulnerabilities should be everyone’s concern.

March is recognized in the United States as National Agriculture Month. Farmers and others in the agricultural industry work diligently to ensure that food is safe for consumption, but many threats require a multidisciplinary approach. For example, in addition to bird flu devastating the poultry industry and egg prices, H5N1 has now been detected in sheep, cattle, and other mammals, raising more public health concerns. Food supply chain vulnerabilities exist anywhere between the farm and table, so knowing how products are managed, transported, and distributed can help reduce risks and protect communities.

The authors in this edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal share their expert insights on topics that may be overlooked by nonrural communities and why common agricultural and critical infrastructure operations should be on the minds of any emergency preparedness professional.