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Featured Article — January 2009

3rd International Symposium on Agroterrorism

The threat associated with a potential agroterrorism incident is of great concern in the Midwest and across the nation. As a result, the Heart of America Joint Terrorism Task Force (HOA-JTTF), working in conjunction with the Kansas City Division of the FBI, began bringing together public and private entities — including national and international government and law enforcement agencies at the federal, state and local levels; academia; the scientific community; the health, medical and veterinary professions and private industry — to identify the most significant issues related to terrorism incidents/threats involving the food and agricultural sectors. This initial discussion led to the development of the International Symposium on Agroterrorism.  

The 3rd International Symposium on Agroterrorism (ISA) was held in Kansas City at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Crown Center in April 2008. The ISA provided a forum to increase the understanding of agroterrorism by focusing on issues surrounding the threat to the food supply in a collaborative environment. 

The ISA addressed a broad array of topics related to agroterrorism through a series of presentations, panel discussions, and exhibits by various subject matter experts from a variety of national and international government agencies and private industries. Particular emphasis was placed on international, multi-sector coordination as an essential element to minimize the threat to the food supply and to improve preparation for an effective response to an agroterrorism incident.  Through the ISA, participants were able to gain an understanding of the cooperative aspects of agroterrorism preparation and response as well as issues of food-chain security that are relevant to both intentional and accidental contamination of the food supply. 

The ISA offered a unique opportunity to hear world-renowned experts in areas related to agriculture and food safety.  Presentation topics included:

• Prevention and preparedness;
• The threat to plants and livestock;
• Case studies involving natural outbreak response;
• Vulnerability assessments for critical agriculture commodities; and
• The potential economic impact of agroterrorism. 

In addition to presentations on these topics, break-out sessions each day allowed participants to engage more actively in discussions about intelligence and information sharing, transportation, economic and trade issues, public/private partnerships, and education and training opportunities. 

Keynote speakers for the ISA included Edward Schafer, secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture; David Acheson, director, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and recognized global subject matter experts from a wide array of scientific, academic and governmental disciplines.  

The 3rd ISA continued to focus on an international approach to addressing agroterrorism issues as it built on the successes of the 2005 and 2006 ISAs. All 50 states and more than 20 countries sent representatives to take part in the ISA, as well as representatives from several international organizations. 

Attendees viewed a documentary, commissioned by the ISA, that focused on the H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus. This unique film included detailed information about global efforts to address the pandemic threat and rare interviews with Vietnamese physicians/government officials discussing the appropriate response to the outbreak. The film even highlighted a first-hand account from a survivor of the disease.  The film was introduced by Dr. Rex Archer, director, Kansas City, Mo., Department of Health.

The 3rd ISA was a tremendous success for all the participants who were committed to this endeavor.  The food and agricultural sectors must remain vigilant, dedicated to cooperation and mutual education in preventing, detecting, deterring and investigating an attack on the food supply that we often take for granted.