Safe Food: Could it be compromised?

Living in Missouri, a state that produces a large amount of the nation’s food supply, I am very much aware of the possible dangers of agricultural terrorism.

Of the 17 critical national infrastructures that have been identified by the U.S. government, agriculture is listed as one of the most vulnerable to terrorist attack. That is according to Amanda Marney, agriculture preparedness special, University of Missouri extension because the agricultural sector of our economy produces about 13 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product and accounts for 18 percent of domestic employment. This is a large proportion for the nation but for Missouri itself it makes it the mainstay of our local economy.

In our state, agricultural sales amount to $4.8 million dollars from an estimated 68 percent of our land that is dedicated to agriculture making Missouri second nationally in the total number of farms and beef cattle herds; third in all cow production; fourth in turkey and ice cream production and sixth in dairy cow and hog production.

Therefore, knowing the importance of a safe food supply it is easy to see the threat. It would be so easy for one of our enemies to introduce a chemical of mass destruction into our supply but even the threat of that happening produces consumer fear the likelihood of which could produce widespread havoc in consumer confidence such as has been seen in incidents of product tampering.

However, it is not just the farms that could be attacked. All links of the food supply chain could be at risk from biological agents such as hoof-and-mouth disease, or avian flu. In addition one can count out chemical, radiological or explosive threats. This fear has made me personally begin to learn how to grow a vegetable garden in my back yard.  I can do this because one of the advantages of living in the Show-Me state is the large lot site afforded to home owners.

However, it is important to note that at the present time our nation is blessed with agricultural and food producers who are known for producing an abundant and safe food supply. That does not mean, however, that this hold is not in danger to the crazies of the world who could chose to destroy that safety net.

So, how do we keep the food supply safe? We must rely on our farm families to apply traditional risk management factors to their farming operations, as well as, to add measures that prevent access to their fields and livestock. The importance of protecting this sector of our economy cannot be overestimated since the risk to human health could be devastating.