Conclusions

The food supply chain is a key element of the critical infrastructure of every country, yet it is vulnerable to natural diseases and infestations as well as to deliberate attack. Criminals or terrorists could target multiple entry points along the complex supply chain extending from “farm to fork,” ranging from the deliberate introduction of anti-crop and livestock pathogens to the adulteration or contamination of processed foods in pursuit of illicit profit or political goals. Although the magnitude of the current threat to food and agriculture is hard to assess, the vulnerabilities are real, and there are clear steps that can be taken to protect the food supply and to deter potential attacks.