In response to increasing cyber risks facing American food supplies, Senators Tom Cotton and Elissa Slotkin have introduced the Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act, a bipartisan effort to enhance protection across agriculture and food sectors. The legislation aims to improve analysis and threat detection in critical farm and food infrastructure to ensure the security of the country’s food supply. By requiring coordination between the secretaries of agriculture, homeland security, and health and human services, as well as annual crisis simulations and risk assessments, the bill seeks to better prepare for potential cyber emergencies.
Senator Cotton emphasized the importance of addressing cybersecurity vulnerabilities in critical industries like agriculture, noting that America’s adversaries are constantly seeking ways to gain an advantage. Senator Slotkin echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that food security is national security and highlighting the need for government and private industries to work together to combat cyber threats to the food supply. The Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act aims to strengthen cooperation between the Department of Agriculture and national security agencies to mitigate the risks posed by cyber-attacks, particularly from countries like China.
In addition to Senators Cotton and Slotkin, other lawmakers including Senators Pete Ricketts, Thom Tillis, Cynthia Lummis, Katie Britt, and Ted Budd have cosponsored the bill, demonstrating broad bipartisan support. A companion bill is also being introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Brad Finstad. The legislation has garnered support from various food industry groups, including the North American Millers Association, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, USA Rice, and the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, further highlighting the importance of securing the nation’s food supply.
The Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act will require the Department of Agriculture to work closely with relevant agencies to conduct annual crisis simulations and biennial risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities in food and farm sectors. By proactively addressing potential cyber threats and enhancing preparedness, the legislation aims to ensure the continued reliability and security of the country’s food supply chains. This comprehensive approach to cybersecurity underscores the critical role that government and private sector collaboration plays in protecting essential industries from cyber-attacks.
Senators Cotton and Slotkin’s bipartisan initiative reflects a shared commitment to addressing cybersecurity challenges in the agricultural and food sectors. By introducing the Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act, they seek to prioritize the protection of critical food infrastructure and enhance resilience against cyber threats. The bill’s requirements for collaboration and coordination among government agencies and industry stakeholders demonstrate a proactive approach to safeguarding America’s food supply from malicious actors seeking to exploit vulnerabilities through cyber-attacks.
With growing recognition of the need to strengthen cybersecurity measures in essential industries like agriculture, the Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act represents a significant step towards enhancing the security and resilience of the nation’s food supply. By promoting greater cooperation between governmental and private sector entities and implementing proactive risk assessment and crisis simulation protocols, the legislation aims to mitigate the impact of cyber threats on food infrastructure. Senators Cotton and Slotkin’s bipartisan leadership in introducing this bill underscores the importance of prioritizing cybersecurity in safeguarding critical sectors of the economy.
