Agriculture & Food Defense

Food and Agriculture Sector Perspectives

Aurelia Berisha, Isaac Dietrich, Ben Dinsmore, Bert Cramer and Heather Allen June 7, 2023

The U.S. Food and Agriculture (FA) Sector is composed of complex production, processing, and delivery systems that can feed people and animals both within and beyond the boundaries of the United States. Beyond domestic food production, the FA Sector also imports many ingredients and finished products, leading to a complex web of growers, processors, suppliers, transporters, distributors, and consumers. These food and agriculture systems are almost entirely under private ownership, operate in highly competitive…

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Biosafety Laboratory Issues and Failures

Robert C. Hutchinson April 12, 2023

Concerns regarding unexpected biological incidents and their public health implications were discussed in a 2014 Domestic Preparedness biosecurity and bioterrorism article. From the improper possession and storage of decades-old live smallpox virus in a former Food and Drug Administration laboratory (lab) on the National Institute of Health (NIH) campus to

Hazmat on the Rail

Glen Rudner April 5, 2023

Since February 3, 2023, following the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, the public has closely followed reports and commentary by media outlets and elected officials. This incident has become more controversial and publicized than others in recent years and has caused a public outcry for change.

Beachie Creek Fire – A Practitioner’s Firsthand Account

Chuck Perino January 4, 2023

When disaster strikes, sometimes those trained to respond find themselves and their families fleeing from the fire. Once their families are safe, they jump back in to assist wherever needed. This scenario happened to one emergency manager when the Beachie Creek wildfire engulfed surrounding Oregon communities with little warning.

Bipartisan Commission Says Nation Unprepared for Biological Events

Asha M. George and John T. O'Brien March 9, 2022

On 17 February 2022, Dr. Asha M. George, executive director of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense, testified as an expert witness before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs at a hearing on addressing the gaps in the nation’s biodefense and level of preparedness to respond to biological threats. In

AGRICULTURE & FOOD DEFENSE ARCHIVES

Technical Assistance for Healthcare System Preparedness

Audrey Mazurek and John Hick March 3, 2021

The mission of the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) is to save lives

Ghosts of Viruses Past

Catherine L. Feinman February 24, 2021

A decade before COVID-19 emerged as a pandemic, emergency preparedness, response, and resilience professionals were focused on infectious diseases. The H1N1 (swine flu), H5N1 (avian

Think Recovery, Not Just Re-Entry, for Post-Pandemic Future

Ann Lesperance and Grant Tietje December 2, 2020

Ten years ago, a team of representatives from King and Pierce counties, cities of Seattle and Bellevue, Joint Base Lewis McChord, and Pacific Northwest National

COVID-19 Testing – What It Is & Why It is Important

Matt Scullion October 28, 2020

In the age of COVID-19, community leaders and the public they serve are bombarded with news related to testing. However, many do not understand the

All Models Are Wrong (But Modeling Is as Necessary as Ever)

Terry Hastings and Colin Krainin August 19, 2020

British statistician, George Box, famously stated that “all models are wrong, but some are useful.” The nation’s experience with COVID-19 has highlighted this fact as

The Epitome of Failure – Part 2

William H. Austin May 27, 2020

The aeolian winds took control of the surrounding environment. A death-defying vortex formed and, along with it, a perturbation as inconceivable as the Camp Fire