New bill would target cyber threats to America’s food systems

A groundbreaking bipartisan effort is underway to address cyber risks facing American food supplies. Sens. Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, and Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, have joined forces to introduce the Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act. This legislation aims to enhance analysis and threat detection in critical farm and food infrastructure, ensuring the protection of agriculture and food sectors.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Sen. Cotton emphasized the importance of safeguarding critical industries like agriculture from cyber threats posed by America’s adversaries. He stressed the need for Congress to collaborate with the Department of Agriculture to identify and address cybersecurity vulnerabilities, highlighting the significance of protecting the supply chains that farmers and all Americans rely on.

Sen. Slotkin echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that food security is national security. She emphasized the constant threat of cyber-attacks on our food supply and underscored the necessity for both government and private industries to be prepared. The Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act, according to Slotkin, will require close collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and national security agencies to prevent adversaries like China from jeopardizing America’s ability to feed itself.

The proposed legislation would mandate coordination between the secretaries of agriculture, homeland security, and health and human services, along with the director of national intelligence, to conduct annual crisis simulations addressing cyber emergencies in food infrastructure. Additionally, the secretary of agriculture would be tasked with conducting risk assessments every two years to identify vulnerabilities in the food and farm sectors, reporting their findings to Congress.

Several other senators, including Pete Ricketts, Thom Tillis, Cynthia Lummis, Katie Britt, and Ted Budd, have cosponsored the bill. Rep. Brad Finstad is also introducing a companion bill in the House of Representatives. 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.

This bipartisan effort underscores the critical importance of enhancing cybersecurity measures in the agriculture and food sectors to protect American food supplies from cyber threats. The Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act represents a significant step towards ensuring the resilience and security of our nation’s food infrastructure.