Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Tom Cotton have introduced bipartisan legislation known as the Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act. This legislation aims to enhance cybersecurity in the agricultural industry and protect America’s supply chain from cyber attacks.
Description
The Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act [1] [2] [3] [4] [6], supported by various agricultural groups and the US Chamber of Commerce, requires collaboration between the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The bill mandates biennial studies on cybersecurity threats to the agriculture industry [5], analyzing existing threats [5], assessing the potential impact of cyber attacks on food safety and availability [5], and evaluating the government’s ability to respond [5]. Additionally, the legislation mandates annual crisis simulation exercises with other government agencies to test the preparedness and response capabilities of the food and agriculture industry in the face of cyber disruptions. This legislation is crucial in safeguarding the US food supply chain from cyber threats, as adversaries actively target industries like agriculture [3].
Conclusion
The Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act highlights the critical importance of protecting our nation’s farms and food security from cyberattacks. By addressing cybersecurity threats and conducting regular studies and simulations, this legislation aims to mitigate the potential impacts of cyber attacks on food safety and availability. It also emphasizes the need for ongoing efforts to strengthen the government’s ability to respond to such attacks. The Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act sets a precedent for the future, recognizing the evolving nature of cyber threats and the necessity of proactive measures to safeguard the agricultural industry and the US food supply chain.
References
[1] https://www.feedstuffs.com/agribusiness-news/bipartisan-bills-address-cybersecurity-threats-to-food-and-ag-sectors
[2] https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/29691-companion-bills-to-address-cybersecurity-threats-in-food-ag-sectors
[3] https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/us-senators-cybersecurity/
[4] https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/policy-quick-hits-new-bill-targets-cyber-threats-to-agriculture
[5] https://southeastagnet.com/2024/01/30/shielding-agriculture-cyber-attacks/
[6] https://www.ttnews.com/articles/senators-cybersecurity-agriculture
